Reds avoid sweep

Houston had won the first three games of the series and all five between the teams at Great American Ball Park this season, but Griffey Jr.'s sacrifice fly started a four-run first inning. He added his homer in the second to put the Reds into a 6-0 lead.

Cincinnati added another in the third and hung on for the victory after losing three one-run games to start the series.

Adam Dunn also homered and had three hits, three RBI and scored three runs for the Reds, who now head to the west coast after a 2-5 home stand.

Griffey Jr.'s homer tied him with Rafael Palmeiro at ninth on the all-time list. Harmon Killebrew is eighth at 573.

The Reds' veteran slugger appears to be rounding into form after missing most of spring training with a broken left hand.

The Reds wound up with 15 hits, more than enough for starter Aaron Harang (5-1) who tossed a solid 6 2/3 innings. David Ross also homered for the Reds.

Harang allowed five runs on nine hits before three relievers finished up, including closer David Weathers who got the last five outs for his seventh save.

Matt Albers (1-2) allowed seven runs on nine hits in just three innings and took the loss. Chris Burke hit a three-run homer for Houston.

Josh Willingham struck a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off Derek Lowe to give the Florida Marlins a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Atlanta Braves completed a 7-3 home stand with a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres. Kelly Johnson drove in three runs for the Braves and Tim Hudson (4-1) pitched six strong innings.

Jason Bay homered and drove in three runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the Chicago Cubs 6-4.

Over in the American League, Mark Teixeira had four hits and drove in three runs to help the Texas Rangers crush the New York Yankees 14-2 in the final game of their series.

Pinch hitter Victor Diaz struck his first career grand slam home run as the Rangers battered New York starter Chien Ming Wang and three relievers for 16 hits.

The Rangers set a season high in both runs and hits to win for the first time in six games against the Yankees this season, It was only their third win in 21 meetings between the teams.

Teixeira also scored three runs as Texas scored seven in the eighth inning to turn the game into a rout and drop the Yankees (16-17) back under the .500 mark.

The Rangers scored three runs off Wang in the fifth to take the lead and another three in the seventh gave them a 7-2 edge after seven innings before the big eighth inning completed the scoring.

Brandon McCarthy (3-4) allowed just one run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two, with three relievers combining to complete the seven-hitter.

Sammy Sosa had three hits and drove in two runs to help the Rangers' 16-hit effort. Gerald Laird had three hits and scored twice and Brad Wilkerson drove in three runs and scored twice.

Wang (1-3) was tagged for seven runs on 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Melky Cabrera had two hits for the Yankees, including a solo home run that tied the game in the third inning.

Jose Contreras pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout as the Chicago White Sox blanked the Minnesota Twins 3-0.

Dan Johnson and Jack Cust both homered twice as the Oakland Athletics routed the Kansas City Royals 17-3.

The reeling Toronto Blue Jays lost their ninth straight game, going down 8-0 to the Boston Red Sox.