CINCINNATI (AP) -- Todd Frazier hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning on Monday, overcoming another stumble by the bullpen and rallying the Cincinnati Reds to an opening 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto singled before Frazier connected against Tony Watson (0-1), snapping a 2-2 tie.Johnny Cueto, the Reds' 20-game winner in the final year of a contract, opened his uncertain season with another dominating performance against the Pirates. He fanned 10 batters in seven innings before turning a 2-0 lead over to a bullpen that was a big problem last season. 
Andrew McCutchen tied it with a two-run shot off newcomer Kevin Gregg. McCutchen has hit safely in his last 11 games at Great American Ball Park with five homers.Jumbo Diaz (1-0) got the final out in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman fanned two of the three batters he faced for the save.Jay Bruce hit a solo homer, and Francisco Liriano balked home a run in his first game since Pittsburgh gave him the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history - three years, $39 million. Liriano allowed two hits in seven innings.The Ohio River rivals have ended the last two seasons in Cincinnati with a lot at stake. The Pirates finished the 2013 regular season by sweeping a series and clinching home-field advantage for the wild-card game. Last year, Cueto beat the Pirates 4-1 for his 20th win, relegating Pittsburgh to another wild-card game.It was the first time they opened a season together since 2003 in the inaugural game at Great American Ball Park. With the late homers, it had the feel of those September games.Hamilton reached on a fielder's choice in the third inning and took third base on Votto's single, his first hit since July 4. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck called a balk on Liriano, making it 1-0.Votto, the NL MVP in 2010, didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee.Bruce, who was limited after surgery for torn knee cartilage last season, homered in the fourth.It was 68 degrees at the first pitch, but rain began falling only 18 minutes into the game. There was a 35-minute delay in the top of the sixth inning.
Andrew McCutchen tied it with a two-run shot off newcomer Kevin Gregg. McCutchen has hit safely in his last 11 games at Great American Ball Park with five homers.Jumbo Diaz (1-0) got the final out in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman fanned two of the three batters he faced for the save.Jay Bruce hit a solo homer, and Francisco Liriano balked home a run in his first game since Pittsburgh gave him the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history - three years, $39 million. Liriano allowed two hits in seven innings.The Ohio River rivals have ended the last two seasons in Cincinnati with a lot at stake. The Pirates finished the 2013 regular season by sweeping a series and clinching home-field advantage for the wild-card game. Last year, Cueto beat the Pirates 4-1 for his 20th win, relegating Pittsburgh to another wild-card game.It was the first time they opened a season together since 2003 in the inaugural game at Great American Ball Park. With the late homers, it had the feel of those September games.Hamilton reached on a fielder's choice in the third inning and took third base on Votto's single, his first hit since July 4. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck called a balk on Liriano, making it 1-0.Votto, the NL MVP in 2010, didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee.Bruce, who was limited after surgery for torn knee cartilage last season, homered in the fourth.It was 68 degrees at the first pitch, but rain began falling only 18 minutes into the game. There was a 35-minute delay in the top of the sixth inning.
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