[PHOTOS] Inside the Cincinnati Reds’ Dramatic Loss on Opening Day

One of the favorite days of the year for Cincinnati Reds fans has come and gone, but this Reds Opening Day came with a newfound excitement and expectation to bring in the new season. During the offseason, Terry Francona, the storied manager with an impressive resume boasting two World Series titles, was introduced as the new manager for the Cincinnati Reds. The recent trials the Reds have faced when it comes to postseason in baseball is well documented, so the addition of a winning manager like Francona has many Reds fans even more excited than usual.

It was an emotional opening to the game for everyone involved, as the Reds honored the late Pete Rose prior to first pitch, with this being the first Reds home game since his passing. With ace Hunter Greene on the mound, the Reds got off to a quick start, holding the visiting San Francisco Giants to no runs through three innings and taking an early 3-0 lead. The bullpen battle began and the Reds played solidly through the middle innings, taking a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning. Then came an unfortunately tumultuous finish, as closer Ian Gibaut took the mound for the first time this season. Gibaut went on to give up four earned runs, in quick fashion. The Giants staved off a last gasp effort from the Reds to tie it in the bottom of the ninth, resulting in a Giants road victory to start the season, 6-4. Despite the incredibly frustrating start to the season, the smattering of boos in the crowd as the game wrapped up, and the largely emptied out stadium upon the final pitch, the Reds fanbase still has a largely optimistic perspective as the season gets underway.

Keep scrolling for everything we saw during the Reds’ Opening Day game on March 27 against the San Francisco Giants.

Photos by Tony Wagner