*Photo from Yahoo! Sports*
After losing a good chunk of star power over the offseason, the Cincinnati Reds came out strong, with something to prove. Joey Votto hit an RBI single, Brandon Drury hit a 3 run home run, and the Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves with a 6-3 win on Thursday night in Atlanta.
It was an opening day to remember for the Reds, who watched the Braves world series championship ceremony before the game began, and then came out and pounced, starting in the second inning and never looking back. It's a positive sign for the Reds, who saw the core get overhauled, with many faces leaving the team in the offseason.
Reds infielder Kyle Farmer said that "It kind of feels like a fresh start. We lost some guys that have been around here for a long time, some of my best friends. You’ve got guys in here who are hungry, want to make a name for themselves and have fun playing. That’s what we have in this clubhouse."
In the second inning, Farmer got the Reds on the board, putting them ahead 1-0 with an RBI single to left field, plating Tyler Stephenson. In the top of the 3rd inning, Joey Votto singled home Jonathan India, and Aristedes Aquino scored on a Stephenson sac fly, making it 3-0 Reds. In the bottom of the 3rd, Eddie Rosario scored for the Braves, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
It stayed that way until the top of the 6th inning. With two runners on, Drury ripped a line drive 3 run home run to left field, putting the Reds ahead 6-1 on his first home run of the season, bringing home Farmer and Mike Moustakas. In the 8th inning, the Braves cut the deficit to 6-3 when Austin Riley hit a two run home run to center field, but that wasn't enough.
Reds manager David Bell said of what worked that "Singles. Walks. The Pham walk 0-2. A lot of doing whatever it takes to score. I know it was one night. Against that team and that pitcher and how he started out, staying steady and not panicking and trusting what we’ve been doing, really good night for our offense against a lot of good pitching."
Getting the opening day start and the win for the Reds was Tyler Mahle, with Luis Castillo currently injured. Mahle lasted 5 innings in his opening day start, allowing one run on 3 hits, walking two hitters while striking out 7. Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson added scoreless innings, while Dauri Moreta pitched the 8th inning, and Tony Santillan got the save.
Max Fried got the opening day start for the Braves, and got hit harder than he would've liked and got the loss. In his start, Fried tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and one walk, striking out 5 hitters. Collin McHugh was responsible for one run as he finished the 6th inning. Spencer Strider threw two innings in relief, followed by Tyler Thornburg in the 9th inning.
After the game, Riley said that "We’ve been through the ebbs and flows. We know how to deal with failure or whatever it might be. So, you just come back tomorrow and get back after it. I’m excited to play tomorrow, and I know everybody else is, too."
Game two of the series comes on Friday night at 7:20, with Reiver Sanmartin starting for the Braves, and Charlie Morton getting the start for the Braves.
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