CINCINNATI — You couldn’t ask for a better season starter than the one the Reds gave the 44,030 that turned out at Great American Ball Park Thursday for the 148th home opener in franchise history.
Nick Martini homered twice and drove in five while starter Frankie Montas threw six shutout innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-2 win over the visiting Washington Nationals.
Spencer Steer doubled, singled and scored twice for the Reds, who won their season opener before a sellout crowd of 44,030 for the first time since 2020, and their first in front of a crowd since 2019 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Eddie Rosario broke up the shutout bid in the seventh with a two-run homer to right off reliever Emilio Pagan.
Martini, making his first Opening Day start at the age of 33, drilled a first-pitch slider from Nationals starter Josiah Gray 405 feet to the seats in right to cap Cincinnati’s three-run second inning.
“Obviously, we’re extremely happy for Nick but at the same time, we’ve known this guy can hit,” Reds skipper David Bell said. “So for it all to come out Opening Day, his first one, which is surprising or shocking if you think about it because this guy’s been a good player for a long time. He’s always been able to hit. So for Nick to get his first (Opening Day) opportunity, it’s great that it’s part of our team. He deserves it. He’s worked incredibly hard for years.”
Martini, a seventh round pick of the Cardinals in 2011, left to play 2022 in Korea before returning stateside in 2023 and joining the Reds for the pennant stretch last season.
The Martini homer marked the sixth straight season Cincinnati homered in the season opener, matching a run from 1986-1991 for the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
The Reds clubbed homers in 10 straight openers from 1963-72.
Martini, the designated hitter, added to his memorable day in next inning when he reached the third row of seats in right-center with Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz aboard to expand Cincinnati’s lead to 7-0.
“I kind of felt it, especially after the second. I felt how loud it got,” Martini said. “Even the first at-bat, I had so much adrenaline because the place was packed-out. It was just awesome to see. It was amazing.”
“I kind of felt it after the second one. I felt how loud it got.” Nick Martini after his 2-homer day. pic.twitter.com/38oSXSurLS
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) March 28, 2024
It marked the second two-homer game of his career and the first two-homer game by a Cincinnati player on Opening Day since Adam Dunn on April 2, 2007, against the Chicago Cubs.
Montas (1-0) also had a day to remember in his first Cincinnati opener. He allowed just four hits over six shutout innings, striking out four and walking none.
“I was just trying to go out there and have fun, just put in a good performance. I know what I can do when I’m healthy,” Montas said. “People know what I can do when I’m healthy. I’m not trying to live up to what people think and expectations. Is this the Frankie Montas from a couple of years ago? This is the Frankie Montas from 2024. This is the healthy Frankie Montas. This is the healthy version of me. I’m just trying to enjoy every part of it.”
“A lot of things fall into place. My 100th career start and me and my wife 10th anniversary is today” Frankie Montas on his six shutout innings in opener pic.twitter.com/ww9RRf3xnT
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) March 28, 2024
Montas had plenty to celebrate and commemorate Thursday. It was his 100th career start on his 10th anniversary with his wife.
“Being able to go out there and get the win as well means the world to me,” Montas said.
And finishing it up Thursday was the pride of Moeller High, Brent Suter. He threw two perfect innings, striking out four.
Afterward, he brought five-year-old son Liam to the podium to celebrate.
“It was surreal. I got out there and was just really thankful, getting the ball, being in this opportunity, being at home. I’ve never experienced that Opening Day energy and it was a lot of fun.”
It was Suter’s first Reds Opening Day in person.
“It was good,” Liam said of his dad’s two perfect innings.
A pretty perfect Opening Day summed up by Reds reliever Brent Suter and 5-year old son Liam. Suter got the final 6 outs in 8-2 win. pic.twitter.com/7UseprTaEO
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) March 28, 2024
Washington starter Josiah Gray (0-1) tossed a scoreless first inning, striking out the final two batters of the frame before getting tagged for seven runs over the next two innings.
In his first Major League Opening Day start, Gray, a former Reds pitching prospect, was charged with seven runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking two in four innings.
Facing his former team, Jesse Winker singled off Montas in the first inning. But the Nationals left fielder was thrown out by right fielder Jake Fraley at second trying to extend to a double.
Another former Red, Nick Senzel was in the original starting lineup at third base but was scratched an hour before first pitch.
