Penning a winning script.(Chicago Tribune)

CINCINNATI_Not many managers would pull their ace with a one-run lead in the sixth inning. The Cubs' Don Baylor did.

Baylor also stuck with slumping catcher Joe Girardi. Another manager might have yielded to the temptation to put one of his few relatively hot hitters, newcomer Robert Machado, into a downsized lineup.

Those two moves paid off with a 2-1 Cubs victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday before 28,033 at Cinergy Field. After Lieber allowed one run in 52/3 innings, the bullpen trio of Jeff Fassero, Kyle Farnsworth and Tom Gordon gave Baylor 31/3 hitless innings and a split of the four-game series.

"It was a well-pitched game on both sides," Baylor said. "We don't score a lot of runs, but when we do not we end up in ballgames like today--2-1, 3-2."

Teams that make big plays win close games. The Cubs committed three errors in this one, but none led to runs. With two outs and the tying run on first in the ninth, shortstop Ricky Gutierrez sprawled behind second base to rob Dmitri Young and strand Ken Griffey Jr. in the on-deck circle.

"I was just trying to make that play any way I could," said Gutierrez, who dove to glove the ball and flipped to Augie Ojeda for the force at second. "You have to tip our pitchers. The bullpen did a great job. We scored just enough to get out of here with a split."

The first-place Cubs climbed to 14 games over .500 at 47-33. They lead Houston by 4{ games in the National League Central. Suffice it to say they should enjoy Monday's day off in New York, which is the Cubs' first since June 11.