Reds give up 4 runs in 9th in Opening Day loss to Giants
The late collapse spoiled an outstanding start by Hunter Greene.
The dawn of the 2025 season came with new leadership and new faces, but things felt eerily similar to years past today at Great American Ballpark, as the Cincinnati Reds took a 3-2 lead into the 9th inning and exited the 9th inning with a 6-4 loss.
The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Hunter Greene had the best season of his career in 2024 and carried that momentum right into 2025 with yet another outstanding start. He struck out 5 batters in a row at one point and, outside of a GABP special of a home run in the 4th, he was utterly dominant this afternoon. In all, he went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with a walk and 8 strikeouts. That’s exactly the type of outing we were hoping for today and I can’t wait to watch this kid keep getting better.
Honorable mentions are due to: Jeimer Candelario for collecting 2 hits and driving in all 3 runs for the Reds; Elly De La Cruz for reaching base 3 times and scoring twice; and Christian Encarnacio-Strand for going 2 for 4 with a double.
Key Plays
- It didn’t take long for the Reds to score their first run of the 2025 season. After 2 quick outs, Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux extended the inning by drawing walks to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Those walks haunted, and Jeimer Candelario drove in Elly for the fist run of the game.
- The Reds were able to extend their lead in the bottom of the 3rd. Singles by TJ Friedl, Elly De La Cruz, and Gavin Lux loaded the bases with 1 out for Candelario. He’d take advantage with a 2-RBI single to put the Reds on top 3-0.
- The Giants got a couple of runs back in the top of the 4th, as Heliot Ramos took advantage of an earlier walk to Jung Hoo Lee and delivered a ball to the seats in right to shrink the Reds lead to 3-2.
- Things remained that way until the top of the 9th, when things fell apart for the Reds. With Ian Gibaut on the mound to close things out for the Reds, a walk by Jung Hoo Lee and a single by Heliot Ramos would put runners on the corners with 2 outs. Patrick Bailey would come up and poke a single just past Matt McLain to tie the game at 3-3. Okay, fine. Things happen. Get it back in the 9th, etc. Unfortunately, things kept happening as Bill Hall All-Star Wilmer Flores drove a ball to the seats in left to give the Giants a 6-3 lead.
- The Reds tried to make things interesting in the 9th, as TJ Friedl drove in Jacob Hurtubise, who’d advanced to 2nd after an earlier hit-by-pitch, with 2 outs. Matt McLain was a couple of feet from tying it, as his late game heroics died at the warning track in left, ending the game at 6-4.
Tony Graphanino
(WPA chart via FanGraphs)
Other Notes
- It wasn’t all bad for the bullpen, as Scott Barlow, Emelio Pagan, and Tony Santillan allowed no runners in 3 innings of work and each struck out a pair.
- The Reds have Friday off before facing off in game 2 against the Giants. Nick Lodolo will make his season debut opposite Justin Verlander. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM EDT.
- Go Reds.