Reds Win Series Opener Against Baltimore 9-3

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The Reds offense exploded in the first three innings of the game and stellar pitching from Bronson Arroyo and the bullpen led to a 9-3 victory Tuesday night at Great American Ballpark to open up their series with the Baltimore Orioles.

In the first inning, Cincinnati plated two runs with a sacrifice fly from Adam Duvall and an RBI from Zack Cozart to give the Reds an early 2-0 lead, however, it was the second inning that proved to be the difference. In the second, with the bases loaded for the second time of the game for Duvall, he would launch it to the left field seats for a grand slam, the first of his career and it became a 6-1 ballgame. With that swing, Duvall also tied his career high in RBIs with five (last did so on 9/26/16 vs St. Louis). Tucker Barnhart would add on to the lead with an RBI double to extend it to 7-1.

In the third inning, Joey Votto connected on a two-run home run to make it a 9-1 lead for the Reds. It was Votto's 123rd career home run at Great American Ballpark, third-most all time (Jay Bruce 135, Adam Dunn 126).

The Orioles offense was held in check for most of the game as they were able to cut a 2-0 deficit in the second inning with a Jonathan Schoop RBI single to make it 2-1 and Adam Jones hit a two-run home run in the fifth, but that was all the offense they would get.

Arroyo (1-2) pitched five stellar innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four and walking two to earn his victory of the season as he also was the first 40-year-old Reds starting pitcher since 40 year old Boom-Boom Beck beat Phi, 8-1, on 5/31/1945 to win a game.

The bullpen combination of Blake Wood, Cody Reed, Tony Cingrani, and Drew Storen would then throw four scoreless innings to lock down the game including Storen striking out the last three batters of the game. On another note, Reed has also now retired the last 18 batters he has faced (9, 4/10 vs Pittsburgh and 6, 4/14 vs Milwaukee).

Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman (1-1) suffered his first loss of the year as he went 2.2 innings allowing eight runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out two.

The Reds and Orioles will square off Wednesday at 7:10 PM ET as Cincinnati will trot out Amir Garrett (2-0, 1.42), while Baltimore counters with Ubaldo Jimenez (0-0, 10.38).