Hunter Greene Hurls Fire But the Reds Fall Short

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio –

Though the Reds’ day started with a parade, it ended in frustration. Hunter Greene started things off with some heat, striking out a bevy of Giants. He allowed a 2 run shot to Heliot Ramos in the fourth but overall had a solid day – 5 innings, allowing just 3 hits, and striking out 8.

After Greene’s exit, 3 members of the Reds bullpen, Barlow, Pagan, and Santillan combined for 3 scoreless relief innings. With Alexis Diaz out due to injury, Reds manager Terry Francona called on Ian Gibaut to try for the save in the top of the ninth.

After striking out former Red killer Willy Adames, he allowed a walk, two singles and a back breaking 3 run home run to Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores. That put the Giants up 6-3.

Though TJ Friedl knocked in Jacob Hurtubise for a run in the 9th, the Reds couldn’t manage any more, and fell by a score of 6-4.

At the dish, Elly De La Cruz had a single and walked, and scored both times he reached base. Jeimer Candelario was the surprise of the day with two singles and three RBIs. Christian Encarnacion Strand had two hits, including a double. Seeing those two Reds swinging the bat so well in game one is extremely satisfying given their injury issues last season.

(photo courtesy of the Reds on X)

The big decision of the game that fans are already talking about is Terry Francona’s decision to insert Ian Gibaut into a save situation in the ninth. He was candid about the decision when asked:

“I don’t know if I’m ever going to check to go see who’s surprised,” Francona said. “What I do is do what I think is right, answer questions and then be confident enough to move on and not run to see how I’m being perceived. I’ll never do that. I’ll always do what I think is right.”

It’s game one of a very long season and Francona put his faith in a pitcher he thought could throw strikes and get the job done. Gibaut simply didn’t answer the call in this single outing. It’s an unfortunate situation but there’s absolutely no call to make anything bigger about it apart from what it is. Even the best closers blow games, and with Alexis Diaz still recovering, things in the bullpen will be touch and go for a brief period.

While it’s fair to point out that Gibaut was a non-roster invitee and was one of the last guys to make the team, the true test is whether the next time this situation comes up, Francona and the Reds shown they’re learned something from the situation and avoid making the same mistakes.

But make no mistake, Hunter Greene started the year throwing absolute gas. He hit 100 several times and had only one walk. He had a 70 percent strike rate, demonstrating that his command was locked in. His pitches were electric and it was a very promising beginning for the Reds ace.

(Photo courtesy of @pitchprofiler on X)

It’s a new season, with new lessons, and there’s plenty of time to adjust strategies. The next opportunity comes on Saturday against San Francisco, when Reds left hander Nick Lodolo takes the mound to show his stuff and hopefully following in the footsteps of his fellow Reds who are looking to have a much better 2025 after having significant injury issues last year.

Featured image courtesy of the Reds on X

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Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.