Phillips delivers as Reds overcome Cueto's injury

• Johnny Cueto exits Game 1 after eight pitches
• Reds' Phillips hits a two run home run in the third
• Giants' Posey hits solo home run in the sixth inning

NL Division Series, Game 1, from San Francisco's AT&T Park

Reds 5, Giants 2: Historically in a best-of-five format, 70 percent of the Game 1 winners have claimed the series.

State of the Series: Even if they lose Sunday, the Reds are sitting pretty, as the series moves to Cincinnati for Games 3-4-5, however many are necessary. The biggest question for them is who will take the ball for Game 3 and possibly 4. The Giants need not panic yet, but they may need a strong outing Sunday from Madison Bumgarner – who had a 5.89 ERA in his last seven starts – to have a fighting chance.

Game 1 Pivotal Point: Brandon Phillips's third-inning two-run homer. The Reds were still getting over losing their starting pitcher to an injury when Phillips hit a bolt of lightning that carried over the left-field fence for the game's first runs, stunning the sellout crowd at AT&T Park. Taking the lead made it a more logical move for manager Dusty Baker to bring in Mat Latos to start the bottom of the third. Phillips also added an RBI single in the ninth.

Man of the Moment: Latos was not supposed to do any more than watch from the bench and chart pitches until his start came up Tuesday. That plan changed when Johnny Cueto had to leave the game in the first inning with back spasms. Latos, a noted Giants killer, took over in the third and gave up one run in four innings, bridging the gap to the Reds' lockdown bullpen.

Needing a Mulligan: Matt Cain allowed more earned runs in the third than he did in 21 1/3 innings during the 2010 postseason. Phillips' two-run shot did the most damage but wasn't the only one Cain served up. Jay Bruce also took him deep in the fourth. The Giants ace was pulled after five innings, leaving with his team down 3-0.

What you missed on TV: A fan yelling "Infield fly rule'' when Brandon Crawford popped up to short with two outs in the sixth.

Glove Story: Other than a questionable error on third baseman Scott Rolen, the Reds sparkled afield. Ryan Ludwick made two tough catches in left field, one a diving grab of a Brandon Belt flare, and his fellow outfielders ranged far and wide to snag well-hit Giants drives. The biggest play was turned in by first baseman Joey Votto, who prevented a second-and-third, nobody-out situation in the fourth by catching a wicked Belt drive and doubling up Hunter Pence.