Reds Drop Home Opener In 13 Innings

Opening Day in Cincinnati ended a little lack luster. The Reds dropped their home opener 3-1 to the Los Angeles Angels in 13 innings. The game ran for four hours and forty five minutes making it the second longest opening day in Reds history only behind the 1975 opener.

Apr 1, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick (48) is taken off of the field after injuring his shoulder during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The game started slow and from the beginning you could tell this was going to be a pitchers duel between Johnny Cueto and Jared Weaver, then ultimately the bullpens for each club. First two innings went scoreless but in those two innings the Reds lost Ryan Ludwick to a dislocated shoulder as he slid into third headfirst.

The third inning saw the only scoring we would see until the 13th inning. The Angels got on the board first behing Chris Iannetta’s solo homerun. The Reds answered in the bottom of the inning when Shin Soo Choo scored on a wild pitch, Ludwick was injured stealing third while Weaver was arguing the call.

From the 3rd inning fans had to wait 10 more innings before another run was scored. Unfortunately for the Reds it was the Angles that were doing the scoring, sending the Reds back to the club house as losers.

For the Reds they were plagued by the same problem that plagued them during the last three games of the NLDS when their bats fell silent. Pitching was great but once again no hits. They managed only 3 hits, three hits from a team that scored more runs than any NL team last season.

Another major point from the game was the umpiring or lack there of behind home plate. Dale Scott is likely related to Helen Keller based on his calls tonight. When I got home I looked at some twit pics from game cast. At one point he called a ball on a pitch right down the middle. Now I know we make mistakes but damn. The game ending call was pathetic to say the least as well.

Thankfully during the Reds Night Opener on wednesday Dale Scott will not be behind the plate.

Twitter: @MattNiehaus