(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange)  Kerry Wood was not dominant, but he got the job done.

The Cubs pitcher made his third major league start since undergoing Aug. 31 shoulder surgery.

Wood gave up three homers in his first start and five walks in his second, but he was sharp on Monday against Cincinnati, allowing two runs (only one earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts and left the game with a 4-2 lead.

The bullpen hung on and Wood earned his first victory since July 15, 2005 with a 7-3 triumph at Wrigley Field.

"I keep feeling better and better," said Wood, who was given a fifth day of rest in between his second and third starts. "I was able to throw all my pitches and mix them up today."

REPLAY: The Cubs snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over Cincinnati in the opener of a 16-game stretch in which the Cubs face Central Division opponents.

"We can make up a lot of ground in the next few weeks," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, whose team improved to 19-31.

Ryan Dempster, who had blown three of his previous four save opportunities, threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his ninth save a day after his wife, Julie, gave birth to a boy.

Tony Womack, who was let go by the Reds earlier this year, picked up some revenge as he went 2-for-5, and Todd Walker and Matt Murton each homered. Walker injured his right collarbone and had it checked out on Monday night. He said he didn't think it was serious and predicted he would play in Tuesday night's game.

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NOTES

 --2B Tony Womack, let go by Cincinnati earlier this season, is 6-for-11 in his first two starts batting second for the Cubs. They have scored 19 runs on 29 hits in those two games.

--LF Matt Murton showed off two of his offensive talents. He beat out a slow roller in the fourth inning and scored the Cubs' third run. In the sixth, he hit a solo home run.

--RHP Jae Kuk Ryu was sent back to Triple-A Iowa after giving up four home runs in 1 1/3 innings in his start against Atlanta on Sunday. Cubs manager Dusty Baker thinks Ryu might have been tipping his pitches.

--RHP David Aardsma was promoted from Triple-A Iowa and will serve in the bullpen. Because the Cubs used five relievers in Sunday's 11-inning game, they were short in the 'pen. Aardsma will serve as a middle reliever although he could be called on for some long relief.

--1B Todd Walker, who entered Monday's action with two homes and 22 RBIs, has been moved to cleanup when Tony Womack starts at second. Manager Dusty Baker wants to avoid the top of the lineup being top-heavy with lefties (Juan Pierre, Womack and Walker) and moved right-handed hitting Michael Barrett from fourth to third. Walker had three hits and hit his third homer of the year in Monday's game.

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