From third base, Barry Larkin watched Aaron Boone send a fly ball to the outfield. Larkin knew what he had to do.

        “Oh, yeah,” he said. “I was going all the way. I wasn't going to give them any more chances to score.”

        Larkin scored on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning Monday to give the Reds a 5-4 win against the Chicago Cubs in front of 41,913 fans at Cinergy Field. The victory was the Reds' first on Opening Day since 1997.

        Making plays, especially in tough situations, was tough for the Reds last season, as they struggled through a66-96 season.

        Larkin made sure the Reds started 2002 off right.

        “It just happened to be me today and Boonie at the plate,” Larkin said. “Hopefully, the day after tomorrow, we'll have someone else that can step up and get it done.”

        The Reds host the Cubs again Wednesday.

        Larkin went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. But the big-play ninth inning is what gave the Reds their first win. After the Cubs rallied to tie the score at 4-4 in the eighth, Larkin reached base on a one-out walk in the ninth. He advanced to second on Ken Griffey Jr's single to right field. Sean Casey followed and was hit by a pitch.

        All that was left was Boone's fly and Larkin's run.

        Opening Day also was a good day for Todd Walker. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles.

        “We executed pretty well today,” Larkin said. “We made hits in key situations. But that's what it's going to take (to win). When we've got someone on second base, we've got to get them home.”

        It was significant that it was Larkin running home this time. He hadn't played last season after June 28 because of a torn right groin muscle and a sports hernia.

Opening Day photo galleries: • The Game • The Celebration • The People • The Stadium • The Parade Red-letter day for fans, Reds Reds 5, Cubs 4 Larkin 'was going all the way' Peevish cow passes on parade SULLIVAN: Little Ball yields big breaks Walker says Opening Day hard - really Dunn's first opener 'unbelievable' Boone: Dunn will learn 1B Hamilton gave Reds what they need Welcome return for Stynes Cubs' struggles don't worry Sosa Reds box, runs Reds make hit with vegetarians

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