Kendall Hunter scored on a 7-yard run with 4:04 remaining in the fourth quarter as the San Francisco 49ers posted a 13-8 triumph over the host Cincinnati Bengals in a defensive battle Sunday.

Hunter's scoring play was set up by a 20-yard pass from Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis that put the ball on the Cincinnati 7.

After Frank Gore was stopped for no gain, Hunter ran off the left tackle to give San Francisco (2-1) a 10-6 lead.

David Akers booted a 53-yard field goal with 2:21 to play, increasing the advantage to seven points. Reggie Smith then thwarted a late drive by the Bengals (1-2) when he intercepted rookie Andy Dalton at the San Francisco 14 with 1:45 left.

Smith was 20 of 30 for 201 yards and Davis hauled in eight passes for 114 yards for the 49ers, who were playing in Cincinnati for the first time since Dec. 13, 2003. San Francisco has won 10 of its last 13 meetings with the Bengals.

Dalton completed 17 of 32 passes for 157 yards and was picked off twice.

Neither team was able to establish a running game as Gore gained 42 yards on 17 carries while Cincinnati's Cedric Benson had 17 rushes for 64 yards.