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 Cueto blew batters away with a 96 mph fastball and allowed nothing more than Justin Upton's solo homer in seven innings Thursday, striking out 10 in an overpowering effort while leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Hampton had another setback in his much-anticipated comeback when he was scratched from his scheduled start because of a chest injury.
Hampton, scheduled to make his first start since Aug. 19, 2005, strained his left pectoral muscle while warming up in the bullpen before Atlanta's home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was seen grimacing after throwing a pitch.
The Braves left-hander was placed on the disabled list after the game. The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in 10 innings.
"Nobody's more disappointed than I am," Hampton said. "As hard as it was for me to say, I had to tell them I couldn't go."
In other NL games it was Philadelphia 8, Washington 7, 10 innings; St. Louis 3, Colorado 0; Chicago 6, Milwaukee 3; San Diego 3, Houston 2; and Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 3, 10 innings.
Cueto's 10 strikeouts were the most by a Reds pitcher in a debut in modern baseball history
-- since 1900.
"The guys on the bench were saying they haven't seen anything like this in a long time," manager Dusty Baker said. "I guess it's something they've never seen, and there's a lot they still haven't seen from this young man."
To a man, the Diamondbacks have seen enough.
At Cincinnati, the 22-year-old right-hander threw his fastball past batters who had never seen it, finishing them off with a hard slider or a swing-teasing changeup. He struck out eight of his first 13 batters.
It reminded Baker of how Fernando Valenzuela became an overnight sensation with the Dodgers in the 1980s.
"He knows what he wants to do," Baker said. "The way he was throwing the ball today has no age."
The only glaring mistake: Upton led off the sixth with a homer. That was the only hit by a team that batted an NL-low .250 last season.
"He was unbelievable two years ago," said Upton, who faced him once in Class A. "He's got great stuff. He pounds the (strike) zone with it. He's just a great pitcher. Obviously he made the team for a reason. He's major league ready."
No one expected Cueto to be in this position a year ago, when he started at Class A and got on the fast track. He led all Reds minor leaguers in strikeouts last season, and was one of the most impressive pitchers in spring training.
Hampton said he tried to "push through it a few times" before giving up on the attempt to make the start after repeated questions from pitching coach Roger McDowell.
"I've never stepped off the mound and said 'Here's the ball,'" Hampton said.
Braves manager Bobby Cox said Hampton's first 23 warm-up pitches were "excellent."
"Then it started grabbing him," Cox said.
"It's unbelievable something else could pop up like that but it did. ... He felt it a little bit the other day tossing the ball and we didn't think much of it, to be honest with you."
Added Cox, pointing to his chest, "Most pitchers never get something in here but it was one of those strange deals and he couldn't go."
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Hampton will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, and left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes will be called up from Triple-A Richmond on Friday.
"I feel deep in my heart that it's going to be a short-term thing," Hampton said.
The Braves need help after seven pitchers were used in Thursday night's 4-3 loss in 10 innings.
Hampton's absence forced the Braves to get creative with their bullpen. Chris Resop started the 10th on the mound, moved to left field for a batter to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup, and then went back to the mound. Once there, Resop (0-1) gave up Xavier Nady's go-ahead single.
Les Lancaster was the last major leaguer to pitch, play in the field and go back to the mound in the same inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He did it for the Chicago Cubs on June 13, 1990, in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets.
Cox said he plans to activate left-hander Chuck James from the disabled list to take Hampton's spot in the rotation. The Braves will have to make another roster move to clear a spot for James.
Phillies 8, Nationals 7, 10 innings
At Philadelphia, Jesus Colome walked Jayson Werth to force in the winning run and the defending NL East champions overcame a 5-0, first-inning deficit to avoid opening the season with a three-game sweep at home for the third straight year.
Padres 3, Astros 2
At San Diego, Trevor Hoffman kept up his seesaw season, pitching a perfect ninth for a save less than 24 hours after blowing the save and taking the loss by giving up four runs in the ninth inning of a 9-6 defeat.
It was Hoffman's second save in three chances, extending his big league record to 526.
Cubs 6, Brewers 3
At Chicago, former closer Ryan Dempster was a winner in his return to the rotation, Aramis Ramirez homered and Alfonso Soriano had two RBIs for the Cubs.
Starter-turned-closer Kerry Wood pitched the ninth for his first career save as Chicago averted an opening three-game sweep.
Cardinals 3, Rockies 0
At St. Louis, Brad Thompson had a career-high six strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings to lead the Cardinals.
St. Louis took two of three from the defending NL champions, who totaled five runs in the series. Colorado was 3-for-25 with runners in scoring position.
[Associated Press]
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