Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Johnny Cueto scattered four hits and one run over five innings and the Cincinnati bullpen made a one-run lead hold up in a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh in the rubber match of a three-game series from PNC Park.

Cueto (8-11) walked three with seven strikeouts to win for the first time in seven starts, giving the Reds just their second victory in the last nine games.

"He (Cueto) obviously shut us down, and held us to one run," Pirates third baseman Andy LaRoche said. "Their whole pitching staff did great tonight. You try to put this behind you and come out with another approach for tomorrow's game."

Chris Dickerson doubled twice and tripled with a run scored and an RBI in just his second major league game and Javier Valentin hit a solo home run. Jeff Keppinger added the other RBI for the Reds.

Ian Snell (4-10) gave up two runs on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts in taking a tough loss, continuing a rocky stretch with just one win in his last 10 starts.

Freddy Sanchez had three hits and a run scored while Andy LaRoche knocked in the lone run for the Pirates, who had won two of three entering the game.

Both Cueto and Snell worked in and out of trouble through the middle innings before Cincy struck for a run in the sixth. Corey Patterson doubled to right leading off, moved to third on a groundout but was tagged out in a rundown on pinch-hitter Andy Phillips' fielder's choice. Dickerson then came through with a two-out RBI double down the right field line for a 2-1 lead.

"I was trying to work up the middle, which was most important today," Dickerson said of his at-bats. "I just got good pitches to hit and that's all you can ask for."

Pittsburgh failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the seventh. Nick Masset, who started the sixth, allowed singles to Sanchez and Wilson to start the inning before Masset exited in favor of Bill Bray. Nate McLouth laid down a bunt single to load the bases before Bray fanned Adam LaRoche for the first out. Gary Majewski then entered to face Andy LaRoche, who grounded into an inning-ending double-play.

Cincinnati added an insurance run in the ninth when Dickerson tripled to deep right and scored on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze from Keppinger.

David Weathers and Francisco Cordero worked a perfect eighth and ninth respectively to close out the game with Cordero earning his 23rd save of the season and 200th of his career.

Pittsburgh took an early lead with a run in the first. Sanchez and Jack Wilson started the frame with back-to-back singles before Cueto recorded two quick strikeouts. Andy LaRoche came through with an RBI single to right and Brandon Moss loaded the bases with a walk. Cueto induced Steve Pearce into a fly out to end the inning.

Valentin then tied things up with a leadoff home run to left in the second.