Reds 3, D-Backs 2

Johnny Cueto's debut could not have been much better. He retired the first 15 batters he faced, gave up a home run to Justin Upton, then retired the next six.

The Reds beat the Diamondbbacks 3-2 today, despite a scary eighth. Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his first save as a Red.

Cueto went seven innings, allowing the one hit. He struck out 10 and walked none. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Reds pitcher since 1900 to have 10 strikeouts in the his major league debut. That's as far back as official stats go.

He hit 95, 96 mph on his fastball. His slider was 87, 88, 90. 92. He mixed in an occasional 84, 85 mph changeup. He did not go to a three-ball count. He threw 92 pitches, 68 for strikes.

According to Elias, Cueto is the first pitcher to throw at least five perfect innings in his major league debut since Seattle’s Ken Cloude threw 5 1/3 perfect innings on May 9, 1997, against the White Sox.

It got ugly after Cueto left. David Weathers came on. He got an out, then walked the bases loaded. The Reds brought in Mike Lincoln, who has not pitched in a big league game since May 3, 2004. Lincoln gave up a sac fly to pinch-hitter Alex Romero and struck out Chris Young.

Upton broke up the no-no by leading off the sixth with a line drive home run to left. Cueto got the next three hitters, two by strikeout. He worked a 1-2-3 seventh, as well. He did not strikeout a batter in the inning.

Adam Dunn made nice catches on the only two hard-hit balls before Upton's homer.

The game started in a light drizzle and it picked up.

Cueto had a 1-2-3 first. He struck out Chris Young on a 96 mph fastball, got Chris Burke to pop out to center, then got Orlando Hudson on a grounder.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Brandon Phillips hit back-to-back doubles in the Reds' first. Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion followed with a walks to load the bases. Scott Hatteberg hit a routine grounder right at second baseman Hudson. He booted it, allowing Dunn to score.

Cueto's second: 1-2-3, two more strikeouts.

Jeff Keppinger made it 3-0 with a two-out home run in the second.

Cueto's third: 1-2-3, two more strikeouts.

Cueto got Young to take a 94 mph fastball for strike three to start the fourth. Burke swung through a 89 mph slider. Hudson flied out to left on a nice catch by Dunn.