Opening Day: 5 things to know about Reds’ loss to Phillies

HAL MCCOY: Slow start, missed chances doom Reds in opener

“We had some opportunities,” Price said. “I think we have a really nice looking lineup. There will be days when we take advantage of those opportunities.”

Here are five things to know about the game:

1. Almost a hero: One of the newest Reds, Scooter Gennett, hit a two-run home run to left field with two outs in the ninth to give the Reds a brief glimmer of hope. Billy Hamilton followed with a game-ending fly out to center field.

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Gennett, a former Brewer, had five home runs in 98 at-bats at Great American Ball Park in his career. He hadn’t hit more than two home runs at another stadium, except his former home park in Milwaukee. This was his first game in Cincinnati as a Red.

“It’s tough,” Gennett said. “I’d like to be happy right now, but I can’t say I’m happy because we didn’t win.”

The Reds claimed Gennett off waivers from the Brewers on March 28. He came off the bench in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at second base.

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“He did a really nice job today,” Price said. “He told me he really likes hitting here. We didn’t know that when we made the claim. He said he sees the ball well. That was an impressive at-bat. We’re tickled to have him. He’s going to help us.”

2. Record crowd: The crowd of 43,804 was the largest regular-season crowd in the 15 seasons of Great American Ball Park. A victory would have given the Reds their first three-game winning streak on Opening Day since 1991, when they won their ninth straight opener.

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“Of course, you want to win,” Hamilton said. “I wouldn’t say it was a disappointment because we went out there and battled our butts off. You’re going to lose ballgames. You can’t win them all, but for us to keep battling like we did and come back in the ninth inning and keep it close, it’s big for us. As of right now, we still feel good about us as a team.”

3. Early struggles: Scott Feldman, a 13-year veteran making his 184th career start and first for the Reds, allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

Cesar Hernandez hit a lead-off home run in the first inning against Feldman. He’s the first Phillies player to lead off the season with a home run since 1938. Freddy Galvis hit a solo home run in the second.

“That game could have gotten away,” Price said, “and it didn’t in a large part because Scott was able to handle the situation and limit the damage.”

4. Missed chances: The Reds loaded the bases with no outs in the third. Billy Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to score Zack Cozart. Then Jose Peraza grounded into a double play.

An inning later, the Reds loaded the bases with one out but failed to score. Fly outs by Tucker Barnhart and Cozart ended the inning.

“That’s baseball,” Hamilton said. “That’s how it happens sometimes. We just have to have confidence and keep building. I feel good with our lineup. I feel we have guys who will compete every single day.

5. Solid relief: The Reds bullpen set a big-league record by allowing a run in 23 straight games last season in April and May. The bullpen gave up one run Monday.

Blake Wood gave up an RBI triple to Phillies pitcher Jeremy Hellickson in the sixth, though right fielder Scott Schebler played the biggest part in the play. Schebler dove for the ball and missed it, allowing it to roll to the wall. Galvis scored from second base.

Otherwise, the bullpen turned in a solid performance. Barrett Astin, making his big-league debut, got the final out of the fifth after Feldman left the game. Drew Storen, Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias ended the game with scoreless innings.

“Scott held it together,” Price said. “The bullpen held it together. It gave us a chance to come back in the game.”

WEDNESDAY’S GAME

Phillies at Reds, 7:10 p.m., FS Ohio, 700, 1410