Game Date:        4/29/04
Leagues:          Rookie
Athletics 19    Reds 5

Description:

After knocking the stuffing out of the baseball in a 26-26 tie in each team's final regular scrimmage on Saturday, the stage was set for a dramatic regular season opener for the Rookie Reds and A's.  The Reds got off to a hot start to open the game, with their first seven batters all reaching base safely.  Sam Riemer's RBI double was the big hit of the inning, as the Reds jumped up 5-0.  But the A's countered with a seven-run first inning to take the lead.  The Reds quickly re-grouped in the second inning, and six of the first seven Reds went to the plate and hit safely.  Donovan Brady led off with a double and scored when Sam hit his second double of the game.  A single by T.C. Falkner was followed by a double by Kyle Blair, and the Reds had tied the game at 7.  Jack Newcomer and Tyler Jones each hit RBI singles to push the Reds ahead, 9-7, but the A's defense stiffened, forcing a ground out at first and then turning a double play to end the inning.  It was the only inning !

in which either team could muster three outs, and that turned out to be the decisive moment in the contest.  The Reds nearly returned the favor in the bottom of the second as they retired two of the first five A's batters.  T.C. snagged a fly ball in foul territory off the first base line, and Donovan - the youngest player on the Reds team - showed off his arm strength by throwing out an A's runner at first from his shortstop position.  A couple of dropped throws proved costly, however, and the A's managed to scrape across five runs to stretch their lead to 12-9 after two complete innings.  The Reds really responded to a challenge from their coach in the third and final inning, and the bats truly came alive.  Joey Rice hit two doubles in the third to key the attack, and the Reds plated six runs.  That put the Reds up, 15-12, and left it up to the defense to secure the win.  When the A's leadoff batter grounded out to Kyle at first, the Reds spirits soared, but the Athletics pounded out nine straight hits, scoring seven runs to win the game,