Phoenix ? Alex Cintron hit a solo homer, capping a two-run rally in the ninth inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds for the 12th straight time, 6-5, Friday night.

The Diamondbacks improved to 36-36, reaching the .500 mark for the first time since April 1.

Tony Womack, who homered and doubled earlier, scored the tying run in the ninth without a hit.

Reds closer Scott Williamson, who blew only his second save in 19 chances, hit Womack to lead off the inning. While Cintron was at the plate, Williamson made a wild pickoff throw to first that sent Womack to third. Womack then scored on a wild pitch by Williamson (4-3).

Cintron then hit his fifth home run.

Jose Valverde (1-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Reds took a 5-4 lead into the ninth after Ken Griffey Jr., pinch-hitting after missing a fourth straight start with a sore hip, lined a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Jose Guillen had a big game against his former team, hitting a two-run homer and an RBI double for the Reds. He also was hit by Valverde in the ninth and went to third on Sean Casey’s single, but Austin Kearns struck out to end the inning.

Casey is appealing a three-game suspension, imposed after a brawl with Philadelphia last week. Reds slugger Adam Dunn also was suspended for three games, but negotiated it down to two games and sat out Friday night.

Red starter Danny Graves allowed solo homers to Robby Hammock and Womack.

Oscar Villareal gave up two singles and hit Jason LaRue to load the bases before Griffey’s fly to right field in the sixth.

Luis Gonzalez hit a two-out, RBI double off Gabe White in the Arizona seventh. White struck out David Dellucci to end the threat.

Arizona starter Elmer Dessens made his first appearance against the Reds since they dealt him to the Diamondbacks on Dec. 15 in a four-team trade.

He allowed three runs on six hits in five innings and finished with his fifth straight no-decision.

Guillen hit a 448-foot shot in the third. It was his 13th homer, within one of his career high set in 1997 and matched in 1998.

Guillen made it 3-0 two innings later, hitting a ball off the wall above the 413-foot sign after Barry Larkin’s infield single.

The Diamondbacks tied it in their half, helped by homers from Hammock and Womack.