CINCINNATI - With one swing, Ken Griffey Jr. reminded everyone of what he can do when he's healthy.

Not that Greg Maddux needed reminding.

In his first official at-bat of the season, the injury-prone outfielder hit a two-run homer Wednesday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs to spoil Maddux's reunion.

The four-time Cy Young winner made his first start in his return to the Cubs, the team that got him started on a grand career. Maddux kept his emotions in check, but couldn't keep a couple of pitches away from the middle of the plate.

''I was OK,'' he said. ''I was surprisingly OK. Mentally I was where I'd like to be for the next 30 games.''

Adam Dunn homered in the second inning, and Griffey followed with his homer an inning later - a great beginning to a season already delayed by rehab.

A strained calf forced Griffey to sit out the final week of spring training and the season opener, marking the fourth year in a row that he's had an injury at the outset. The 34-year-old outfielder was just happy to be on the field for Maddux's big moment.

''It felt good,'' Griffey said. ''I finally got a chance to go out there and have some fun.''

So did Maddux, who felt some nostalgia about coming home. Thousands of Cubs fans in the crowd of 30,201 cheered when he left the bullpen after his pregame warmup.

They were stunned when he plunked D'Angelo Jimenez with his first pitch, then hit Griffey in the calf two batters later. Maddux has pitched 3,974 innings in his career, but had never hit two batters in the same inning before.

''I guess if you play long enough, it's going to happen,'' said Maddux, who turns 38 next week.

He was more disappointed by two other pitches. He left one right down the middle for Dunn, who homered for his first career hit off Maddux in the second inning.

''I'll tell you, you sit in the stands and think, 'I could hit this guy,'' but he really puts the ball where he wants it,'' Dunn said.

Not always.

A pitch to Griffey in the third inning also tailed back over the plate - belt-high, no less. Griffey hit it over the center field wall for a two-run homer, adding to his success in their few encounters.

Griffey is 6-for-14 with two homers off Maddux.

''All in all, it was a good day,'' Griffey said.

Ultimately, the only pitcher to win 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons got outdone by a pitcher who has never won more than eight in any season. Paul Wilson (1-0) allowed only four hits in seven shutout innings, the first time he'd gone that long without giving up a run since 2001.

Wilson felt more nervous than Maddux at the outset.

''I felt like I was going 100 mph for the first couple of innings, but I was able to settle down,'' Wilson said.

Ryan Wagner pumped his fist after striking out Sammy Sosa with two runners aboard to end the eighth. Danny Graves gave up a two-out homer to Derrek Lee while getting his first save on a nostalgic night.

Maddux hadn't pitched for the Cubs since Sept. 20, 1992, the first of his four Cy Young seasons. He returned to Chicago in February after winning 11 division championships and a World Series in Atlanta, hoping to transfer some of that playoff feeling to his old haunt.

''Chicago is a special place, no question,'' he said. ''I enjoyed my first six years playing there and always enjoyed going back there as a Brave. There's a little added flavor when you wear the uniform.''

Notes: Griffey's homer was his first since July 12. He tore a tendon in his ankle last July, ending his season. … The Reds started Griffey, Dunn and Austin Kearns in the outfield for the first time since June 25. All of them had major injuries last season. … Maddux made his debut with the Cubs on Sept. 3, 1986, as a pinch-runner for Jody Davis in the 17th inning. He failed to score, stayed in the game, pitched one inning and got the loss to Houston.