Cincinnati Reds’ sad 7-6 loss to the Nationals
Three Washington runs in the ninth inning off Reds closer Alexis Diaz secured the Nationals a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in front of 39,674 on Kids Opening Day at Great American Ball Park.
It was shaping up to be another game featuring Nick Martini as the hero. His two-run pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth put the Reds up 6-4, driving a big crowd into a frenzy. However, closer Alexis Diaz’s skid that ended the 2023 season and most of spring training continued, as he allowed Washington to score three wildness-aided runs in the top of the ninth, resulting in a heartbreaking loss.
Offense: Reds batters went 10-for-34, with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Martini led the offense for the second game in a row. Santiago Espinal’s pinch-hitting double in the eighth delivered the game-winning runs. However, the bullpen was unable to finish the job.
In the bottom of the second inning, Espinal reached on an infield single, his first as a Red, and swiped second base. With two outs, Stuart Fairchild lined a single to left field, which was fielded by Jesse Winker, who was not recognized for his defensive abilities during his time with the Reds. A superb one-hop throw home, however, was just in time to nail Espinal at the plate and keep the game scoreless.
With two outs and no one on, Jeimer Candelario tied the game with a 379-foot solo homer into the left field lower deck, his first hit as a Red.
Elly De La Cruz led up the bottom of the fifth inning with a great bunt single, but he was thrown out trying to steal second when he lost contact with the bag.
Fairchild followed with a one-out single, which would have likely scored De La Cruz had he been safe. But Luke Maile then smashed one 374 feet into the right field lower deck, continuing his torrid hitting from spring training, to give the Reds a 3-2 advantage. Will Benson then hit a gapper to right-center for a double, ending the day for Nationals starter Patrick Corbin. Former Red Derek Law entered, and Jonathan India greeted him with a hit to center, scoring Benson for a 4-2 advantage.
