Major League Baseball

Stubbs, Votto lead Reds in 3-1 win over Dodgers

Published Mar. 4, 2011 5:34 a.m. ET

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Drew Stubbs had a run-scoring double and defending National League MVP Joey Votto singled and drove in a run to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.

Stubbs began last season as the Reds' leadoff hitter but struggled. He began to hit when Dusty Baker dropped him in the lineup. Against the Dodgers, he had two hits and also scored a run back in the leadoff spot.

''Stubbs doesn't have a track record,'' Baker said. ''I have to find out if he's a slow starter or not. He has a good mix of speed and power.''

Travis Wood, competing with Homer Bailey and Mike Leake for the final two spots in Cincinnati's starting rotation, gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings.

Francisco Cordero, Aroldis Chapman, Matt Maloney and Sam LeCure kept the Dodgers in check following Wood.

''We got great pitching tonight,'' Baker said. ''Wood looked good. Cordero looked good. Maloney pitched out of trouble in his three innings. Chapman looked excellent.''

Chapman struck out the first two hitters he faced in his perfect inning.

Hiroki Kuroda made his second spring start for the Dodgers and allowed two runs and six hits in 2 1-3 innings.

''I didn't have all my pitches tonight. My breaking ball wasn't there,'' Kuroda said. ''That was a great lineup. It was like during the season. It put a little pressure on me.''

Jerry Sands had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers.

First year Dodger manager Don Mattingly is encoraged by what he's seen in the early going.

''Our energy's been good. We have a couple win and a couple losses but I feel good about what we're doing. We've been concentrating and focusing on what we need to do,'' Mattingly said.

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