[Stardust]

The Reds won a series for the first time since the opening one of the year.

Johnny Cueto wasn’t at his sharpest. He allowed five hits, walked two and hit two batters. But he still managed to go 6 1/3 innings and allowed only two runs (one earned). He struck out seven, a season-high.

He threw 111 pitches, 77 strikes.

Sean Marshall worked the ninth for the save against his old team.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the third. Drew Stubbs led off with a single. Joey Votto doubled into the left-center field gap to get Stubbs in. An out later, Scott Rolen singled to right to get Votto in.

The Cubs tied it in the fifth. Cueto hit pinch-hitter Joe Mather with the first pitch of the inning. Cueto got the next two hitters. But Starlin Castro reached on an infield single. Mather scored and Castro moved to second when Cueto’s pickoff throw to first went off Votto’s glove for an error.

Bryan LaHair got Castro in with a single to tie it at 2-2.

The Reds took the lead back in the sixth, thanks to some help from the Cubs. Ryan Hanigan walked to start the inning. Cueto tried to sacrifice Hanigan over. But Cueto ended up reaching when catcher Geovany Soto’s throw hit him in the back. Zack Cozart put down another sacrifice. He reached as well when Soto’s throw pulled the first baseman Joe Mather off the bag.

Stubbs got a run in with fielder’s choice groundout. After Votto struck out, Ryan Ludwick was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Jay Bruce then walked to force in a run and make it 4-2.

Cueto got an out in the sixth. He then walked Tony Campana and hit Castro with a pitch. The Reds brought on Logan Ondrusek at that point. He walked pinch Steve Clevenger to load the bases.

Ondrusek struck out Alfonso Soriano, then gave way to Aroldis Chapman. Chapman struck out Ian Stewart with 99 mph pitch on inside corner.