Cincinnati ? Sammy Sosa finally got No. 500. At long last, the Cincinnati Reds got No. 1.

It was tough to tell who was more relieved.

Sosa hit his 500th career homer in the seventh inning Friday night, but the Reds hit three homers of their own for their first victory in their new ballpark, 10-9 over the Chicago Cubs.

Then, they all took a deep breath.

“It’s great because I don’t have to think about it anymore,” said Sosa, who became the 18th player to reach 500. “I don’t have to go up there every at-bat thinking of hitting the ball out of the park.”

And the Reds don’t have to fret about how they can’t seem to win in Great American Ball Park, where they lost two exhibitions to Cleveland and got swept by Pittsburgh in their opening three-game series.

They blew a 7-0 lead Friday, leaving the crowd in a surly mood after Lenny Harris’ two-run homer tied it in the eighth. Barry Larkin’s RBI single off Dave Veres (0-1) in the bottom of the inning provided the winning run.

Sosa’s solo shot off reliever Scott Sullivan in the seventh landed in the right-field seats and touched off one of the loudest ovations in the park’s short history.

Sosa made his trademark home run hop as soon as the ball left the bat, then put his head down and circled the bases to a standing ovation. He pointed both index fingers to the sky when he stepped on home, then came out for a curtain call as the 29,048 fans kept on cheering.

“When I made contact, I knew the ball was gone and I’m like, ‘Wow, I got it,”‘ Sosa said.

The sudden and sustained burst made Sosa only the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays also were 34, and Jimmie Foxx was 32 years old.

Chicago's Sammy Sosa takes a curtain call after he hit his 500th career home run. Sosa's blast couldn't help the Cubs win, as Cincinnati prevailed, 10-9, Friday in Cincinnati.

“It was a special moment,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “It’s too bad he couldn’t have done it in Chicago against somebody else.”

Astros 6, Cardinals 5 (12)

St. Louis — Brad Ausmus hit a grand slam in the first inning and a solo shot in the 12th off Russ Springer (0-1) to lead Houston.

With two runners on in the bottom of the 12th, Brad Lidge struck out Albert Pujols on a 3-2 pitch and Ausmus threw out Fernando Vina trying to steal third to end it.

Jim Edmonds went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles and his first four RBIs of the season. Ricky Stone (1-0) worked a scoreless 11th inning.

Mets 4, Expos 0

New York — David Cone turned back the clock and surprised Montreal.

At age 40, Cone’s comeback start was everything he and the Mets could’ve hoped for. Throwing every sort of breaking ball from all different angles, he held the Expos to two singles — both by pitcher Tomo Ohka (0-1) — while striking out five and walking three.

Braves 12, Marlins 7

Atlanta — Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer and Atlanta scored seven runs in the seventh inning to win its first game of the season. The Braves took out their frustration on Marlins relievers Blaine Neal and Vladimir Nunez (0-1). Former Kansas City Royal Roberto Hernandez (1-0) got the win and John Smoltz earned his first save.

Pirates 9, Phillies 1

Philadelphia — Reggie Sanders hit a grand slam for his fourth homer in four games, and Pittsburgh ruined Jim Thome’s home debut

Former Royal Jeff Suppan (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in six innings in his Pirates debut. Phillies starter Joe Roa (0-1) lasted just two innings, giving up six runs and six hits.

Giants 7, Brewers 5

Milwaukee — J.T. Snow’s infield single off shortstop Royce Clayton’s glove drove in two runs in the eighth and San Francisco overcame a three-homer inning to beat Milwaukee in its home opener.

Jose Cruz Jr. tied it at 5 with a one-out homer off Luis Vizcaino (0-1). Snow then singled with the bases loaded.

Jim Brower (1-0) got the win.

Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 1

Denver — Shawn Chacon (1-0) retired the first 16 batters and Colorado got a home run from Chris Stynes to win its home opener. Todd Helton had RBI single for the Rockies against former Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1).

Padres 4, Dodgers 2

San Diego — Rookie Xavier Nady homered and San Diego ruined the return of Darren Dreifort (0-1) to the mound.

Clay Condrey (1-1) allowed one run and five hits in five solid innings for the Padres. Condrey, who lost in relief in the season opener, was lifted because of a mild right groin strain.