A team that only scored one run through 18 innings to start the season may be looking at having trouble scoring at all. However, in the 19th inning of play, the Cincinnati Reds put up more runs in one inning than the entire series.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds were both having offensive struggles in the first two games of the season. Each team took one of the first two games of the season with 1-0 victories. Both of these games were fun to watch, if you love good pitching. Johnny Cueto and Adam Wainwright squared off on Opening day in Cincinnati, both coming out with dominant performances. Two days later, Tony Cingrani and Michael Wacha took the mound and did likewise. Cueto and Wainwright are regarded as teams’ aces, so it wasn’t much of a surprise to see the results that we saw. The first and only run of the game came on a solo home run by Yadier Molina in the 7th inning.

On the other side, Cingrani for the Reds retired the first nine batters he faced after about a three hour rain delay Tuesday night. He ended up going  seven innings while giving up only two hits, walking two and striking out nine. Wacha put up similar numbers, going six and two thirds innings with six strikeouts and two walks. The game eventually ended in the bottom of the 9th on a one out bases loaded single by Reds outfielder Chris Heisey.

The deciding game of the series was the following day, scheduled to start at 12:35. A nearly four hour rain delay pushed the start back to 4:15. Homer Bailey on the mound for the Reds and Lance Lynn for the Cardinals. The first two innings of the game were filled with offense for both teams. Joey Votto hit a two out double, followed by a Jay Bruce deep home run to right field. One batter later, Todd Frazier hit an upper deck home run to left field to make it back to back home runs and give the Reds a 3-0 lead. The inning ended and Bailey was out to the mound. He retired the first two batters he saw, but then gave up a two out hit to Matt Adams. Johnny Peralta followed that up with a two run homer to left field. The Cardinals were swinging the bat and that eventually made for an early exit for Homer Bailey. Bailey ended up with four and a third innings pitched, giving up seven hits, four earned runs, three walks and three K’s. Lynn on the other hand threw five complete innings, setting him up for a win provided the Cardinal bullpen picked him up. Lynn struck out seven, walked one and gave up 3 runs. The Reds put up a fight after being down 7-3 in the 7^th, when Frazier went deep one more time. That drove in three and pulled the Reds to within a run. However, they were unable to get another run across the plate. The Cardinals were able to take the third game 7-6.

The Reds and the Cardinals share a cherished rivalry, especially after the 2010 bench clearing brawl that occurred in late August. Many believe both of these teams have the chance to lead and even win the NL Central. This opening series for the Reds, in my opinion, was a successful one. They saw great pitching from two of their starters, and even the bullpen. For a team that is down with plenty of injuries at the pitching spot, Cueto and Cingrani were able to deliver for the hometown team.