Cincinnati ? With the game down to its last out, Reds fans stood behind the dugout and chanted, “First place! First place!”

In Cincinnati, reaching the top in April is something to celebrate.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn homered Friday night, powering the Reds to a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that extended their uncharacteristically good start.

With their third straight win, the Reds moved into first place in the NL Central for the first time since June 17, 2002, when they were still playing at Cinergy Field with a bigger payroll.

It may be early, but it’s still intoxicating.

“You hear about the Cubs and the Astros,” said Sean Casey, who had a two-run triple. “Hey, we’re here to win the Central and go to the playoffs.”

Slow starts are more the norm for Cincinnati, which is 3-1 for the first time since 1997. At two games over .500, the Reds have matched their high point from last season, when they moved into Great American Ball Park and lost 93 games.

The Reds sold 9,461 tickets right before the game, their biggest walk-up crowd since 1994.

“It’s good to see that the fans are excited about what we’re doing,” Dunn said.

Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. belts a home run against Pittsburgh. Pirates catcher Jason Kendall is at right. The Reds won, 5-1, Friday night in Cincinnati.

Dodgers 5, Rockies 1

Los Angeles — Leadoff hitter Dave Roberts stole a career-high four bases, Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer and Los Angeles beat Colorado for its third straight victory. Alex Cora had a two-run triple and Paul Lo Duca singled home a run for the Dodgers.

Cardinals 13, D’backs 6

Phoenix — St. Louis pounded Casey Daigle in his major-league debut with five home runs — two by ex-Diamondback Reggie Sanders — and the Cardinals beat Arizona. Tony Womack, another former Diamondback, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Scott Rolen was 3-for-5.

Mets 3, Expos 2, 11 innings

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Todd Zeile doubled to break an 11th-inning tie, leading New York over Montreal. Montreal, owned by the other 29 major league teams, is back at Hiram Bithorn Stadium for 22 games.

Astros 13, Brewers 7

Milwaukee — Houston right-hander Wade Miller dominated in Milwaukee’s home opener, pitching six solid innings in the Astros’ win. Miller allowed two earned runs on four hits in improving to 11-1 against Milwaukee. In seven career starts at Miller Park, he is 6-0 with a 1.08 ERA.

Cubs 2, Braves 1, 15 innings

Atlanta — Tom Goodwin brought home Derrek Lee with a sacrifice fly in the 15th inning, and Chicago held on to beat the Atlanta. The Cubs snapped a two-game losing streak.

Aramis Ramirez, who had four hits, doubled for the third time to lead off the inning, and moved to third on a single by Lee. Against a drawn-in infield, Ramon Martinez hit a grounder to shortstop Jesse Garcia, who quickly threw home to get Ramirez easily.

But Michael Barrett walked to load the bases, and Goodwin hit a fly ball off Will Cunnane (0-1) down the right-field line to score Lee.

Kent Mercker (1-0) pitched the 14th and Joe Borowski got three outs for his second save.

The Cubs tied it in the ninth on a pinch-hit homer by Todd Hollandsworth, who drove a fastball from John Smoltz deep into the seats in right.

Marlins 4, Phillies 3

Miami — Mike Lowell had three hits and drove in two runs to lift Florida over Philadelphia. Lowell’s third single sparked a three-run sixth inning that tied the game. Luis Castillo added a two-out RBI single in the seventh. It was the Phillies’ 11th loss in 13 games against the Marlins.