Homer Bailey Was Effective In First Opening Day Start But Washington Won

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Homer Bailey was trying not to put too much importance on getting picked to start on Opening Day, something the longest tenured Reds' pitcher (Joey Votto is the longest tenured player) has never done.

"When you climb Mt. Everest, no one talks about the first step," Bailey said.  "They remember that you get to the top."  Bailey views Opening Day as the first of 162 on the year and nothing more."

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The Reds lost to the Washington Nationals 2-0.

Still, the pitcher who has been injured for the bulk of the last three seasons, noticed the energy that the largest regular season crowd of 43,878 in Great American Ball Park history brought to the game.

"There was great energy from the fans," Bailey said.  "Those are the games you want to pitch in."

Bailey was up against Washigton's top pitcher, Max Scherzer. Bailey could afford few mistakes and really didn't make any glaring mistakes.  Adam Eaton blooped a single leading off the game.  Eaton advanced to third with one out on a soft ground single up the middle by Bryce Harper.  Ryan Zimmerman bounced to Eugenio Suarez at third base with one out.  Suarez got the force on Harper but Scooter Gennett's relay to first was too late to get Zimmerman and the run scored.

"We battled a really good lineup," Bailey said.  "A couple of things here and there and we're still playing.  I'm not happy with the results because it was in a loss."

Bailey limited the Nationals to that lone run on four hits through six innings.  The Reds' bullpen kept Washington off the board until the ninth.  Amir Garrett, Wandy Peralta and Kevin Quackenbush kept the Reds in striking distance.

"I'm not going to ask for more," Bryan Price said.  "Homer got soft contact and we weren't able to turn a double play.  Homer was more acute with his fastball command."

Scooter Gennett hit a double and three singles but the Reds didn't mount a real threat against Scherzer.

Gennett led off the second inning with a double but Scott Schebler, Tucker Barnhart and Jose Peraza struck out.  Gennett and Schebler singled with two outs in the fourth but Barnhart struck out. Bailey singled and Jesse Winker walked with two outs but Suarez flied out in the fifth.

Gennett singled again in the sixth with two outs.  Joey Votto and Gennett single with two outs in the eighth but Schebler grounded out to end the inning.

"Solve isn't the right word to use with Scherzer," Gennett said. "He isone of the best pitchers in the game.  He has six pitches that he can command and he pitches backwards sometimes.  I wanted to keep it simple, be aggressive and if it looked like a strike swing at it.  If you get behind with him it is like you're out already. We just didn't get the big hit."

The Nationals scratched an insurance run against Jared Hughes in the ninth inning.  Michael Taylor bunted for a single, then stole second.  He advanced to third on a ground out.  Taylor beat Winker's throw on  a fly out by Brian Goodwin to score the Nationals second run.

The Reds were able to put the tying run at the plate with two outs.  Phillip Ervin walked but Billy Hamilton struck out for the third time to end the game.

Scherzer struck out 10 Reds batters in six innings.  He struck out 10 or more for the 65th time in his career.