Ramon Hernandez’ walk-off homer earns Cincinati Reds a victory over Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers started off in command but the Cincinnati Reds finished off the game 7-6 to go back to their dugouts winners on Thursday. It was all Brewers on Opening Day at the Great American Ball Park until the Reds’ Ramon Hernandez hit a two out,
three run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that left the impressive Brewers shattered.
“We don't want to win it like that. We got lucky enough we got the win today," Hernandez said. "To me, it's amazing. This is one of the best opening days I've ever had in my career. I'm so happy that I helped my team and my team won a ballgame."
It was a perfect day for Hernandez as he penned his names into the clubhouse record books. He became the fifth Reds’ player since 1900 to have four hits on opening day of a Major League Season. Catcher Bubbles Hargrave, OutFielder (OF) Jimes Raymond,
OF Babe Herman Greengrass and OF Paul O'Neill are the previous Reds’ players who achieved this landmark. Hernandez’ game-winning three-run
homer was the first opening day homer in which the winning team was two runs behind their opponents before the home run was hit.
Before Hernandez, Brewers’ second baseman Rickie Weeks became the first Brewer player who started the regular season with a home run. With Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez’s two homers on the first two pitches of the game, The Brewers became the first team
in 42 years to start the season with back-to-back homers.
Edinson Volquez who started pitching for the Reds had a horrible day with the pitch. Two homers off the starting two pitches will be a nightmare for any pitcher. Volquez gave away three runs in the first innings and that set the tone for the whole game.
But he came back strong and pitched five solid innings afterwards, giving away only two more runs.
On the other end, Brewers’ starting pitcher, Yovani Gallardo, did not allow Reds’ hitters to free their arms. He gave away two runs to the Reds with four strike outs. Closer John Axford was the main culprit who gave away four runs in two outs.
Highlights:
Brewers took command of the game with an early three runs lead in the top of the first innings.
Joey Votto hit a sacrifice fly to center at the bottom of the first inning to score on Drew Stubbs, cutting the Brewers lead to two.
Wil Nieves scored on Rickie Weeks’ double to left in the second inning, increasing the Brewers’ lead to three.
Stubbs homered to the right to cut the lead once again to two which was cancelled by Ryan Braun’s homer to center in the fifth innings.
Ryan Braun and Joey Votto scored for their respective teams in the seventh innings making it 6-3 for Brewers at the end of seventh innings.
Brandon Phillips scored on Gomez’ sacrifice fly before Ramon Hernandez snatched victory for the Reds with his walk-off homer.
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