CINCINNATI, April 4 (UPI) -- Juan Acevedo and two relievers combined on an eight-hitter Thursday night, helping the Cincinnati Reds defeat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Acevedo (1-0) surrendered one run and five hits over six innings with a walk and six strikeouts. He allowed a solo homer to Sammy Sosa in the fourth.
It was Sosa's second homer of the year and the 452nd of his career, tying him with Carl Yastrzemski for 24th on the all-time list.
Juan Cruz (0-1) was the hard-luck loser, allowing only three hits over 4 2/3 innings. Two of the three runs he gave up were unearned.
Sean Casey led off the double and scored when Aaron Boone's grounder went through the leg's of first baseman Fred McGriff for an error. Boone came home on Jason LaRue's double.
The Reds regained their two-run advantage in the fifth as Todd Walker led off with a walk, advanced on Barry Larkin's groundout and scored on Ken Griffey's single.
Scott Sullivan tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings before Danny Graves got the final five outs for his first save of the season.
