Reds Fall To Cardinals 7-6 As Bats Come Alive

Apr 3, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The first two games of the opening series to the season between the St Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds were all about pitching, this afternoon the bats from both teams came alive, but the Reds lose to the Cardinals 7-6 in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

The start of the game was delayed three hours and 42 minutes by rain. Wednesday night’s game also was pushed back after a 2:40 rain delay.

Third baseman Todd Frazier hit two homers twice and right fielder Jay Bruce also homered for Cincinnati. First baseman Joey Votto had three hits.

First baseman Matt Adams went 3-for-5 with two doubles to pace St. Louis. Right-hander Trevor Rosenthal picked up his second save.

Television replay was used at Great American Ball Park for the first time in the seventh inning.

With runners on first and second, Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday hit a drive to the right-center field wall that appeared at first to carom off center fielder Billy Hamilton’s glove and then caught by Bruce. After a 2:08 umpire review, it was confirmed that the ball struck the top of the wall, so it was neither a homer or a catch. Holliday was awarded a single to load the bases.

Reds starter Homer Bailey, who was limited to three spring training starts because of a strained right groin, allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in his season debut.

After going scoreless in the first 17 innings this season, the Cincinnati offense erupted in the first inning on Thursday.

Bruce was behind 1-2 in the count when he launched a 449-foot, two-run homer to right field. Frazier followed with a 474-foot blast into the left-field bleachers on an 0-2 pitch.

Peralta’s two-run, line-drive homer in the second sparked the St. Louis offense.

After replay confirmation of Holliday’s hit in the seventh, RBI singles by outfielder Allen Craig and catcher Yadier Molina gave St. Louis a three-run lead.

The Cardinals led 7-3 before Frazier hit a three-run homer to make it a one-run game.

Reds rookie catcher Tucker Barnhart, who landed a spot on the Opening Day roster for his defense, did not disappoint in his first career start. Barnhart completed a force play with the bases loaded in the third and threw out center fielder John Jay attempting to steal third in the fourth.

The team will head to New York to battle the Mets, a start of a three game series tomorrow night at 7:10pm. It’s also a start of a six game road trip, which will end in St Louis on Wednesday. Mike Leake will make his season debt tomorrow night.

Overall, very competitive series between the two central foes, they will see each other next week as the battle move to Missouri.