CHICAGO - Go ahead and declare the Danny Graves Experiment a success. Graves earned his first win as a starter by pitching six scoreless innings in the Reds' 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

To his surprise, Danny Graves is enjoying his new job. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        Graves, the Reds' former closer, is digging his new gig.

        “I never thought I'd say this, but I like starting better than relieving,” he said. “It's so much more relaxing.”

        Graves (7-3) looked like a relaxed pitcher in making his fifth start. He recorded career highs in innings, pitches (90) and strikeouts (seven) and lowered his ERA to 1.89 as a starter.

        “It looks so natural with Danny,” said Reds manager Bob Boone. “He got to 90 pitches and didn't expend as much energy as a lot of guys would doing that.”

        Thursday's victory completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Reds won two of the three games 1-0 after not winning a 1-0 game this season.

Jose Guillen, colliding with Cubs catcher Mike Mahoney after tagging up in the second inning, was called out for leaving third base too soon. | ZOOM |

        Reds pitchers limited the Cubs to two runs in the series and kept slugger Sammy Sosa from getting to 50 home runs for the season and 500 for his career. Sosa is stuck at 498 after going 1-for-12 with five strikeouts in the series.

        “They pitched me great, no question,” Sosa said. “You've got to understand pitching means everything.”

        That's why the Reds are fairly happy these days.

        To start Graves, the Reds needed Scott Williamson to assume the closer role. Williamson converted his second save of the series and eighth in 10 tries with a 1-2-3 ninth.

        “Willie's going to be perfect for that role,” Graves said.

        Williamson's ERA is 1.33 since the All-Star break. The Reds were concerned he'd get himself into jams as a closer, but that hasn't been the case.

Guillen singles in the only run in the fourth inning. | ZOOM |

        “I'm working a little faster,” Williamson said. “I'm going at people. If they hit it, they hit it. Sometimes they do.”

        Not often. Williamson is allowing a hit about every other inning, which makes him suited for closing. Graves' style is better for starting.

        “You can make a couple of mistakes when you're starting,” Graves said. “I hung a couple of sliders to Sammy today. He took one and fouled one back. I guarantee he doesn't do that in the ninth.”

        Graves was special early, striking out the side in the first.

        “I threw more in the bullpen today,” he said, “so I'd be ready for the first.”

        Graves usually doesn't strike out many batters, but that's in relief.

        “He has to use the sinker then,” Bob Boone said. “(The hitters) know where it's going to be. As a starter, he can use that breaking ball.”

        The Reds scored their run in the fourth on Jose Guillen's RBI single.

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