Reds 7. Brewers 6
Ramon Hernandez hit a three-run walk-off homer to lift the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day on Thursday.
Jonny Gomes hit a sacrifice fly prior to the decisive blast, as the Reds victimized Brewers closer John Axford (0-1) for four runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Trailing 6-3, Brandon Phillips led off the ninth against Axford with a sharp single off the left field wall. Joey Votto followed with a walk, before Scott Rolen grounded into a fielder’s choice to third base, loading the bases.
Axford struck out Jay Bruce, but Gomes lined out to deep center to make it 6-4 with two outs. Hernandez followed and drove an opposite-field blast over the wall in right to hand Cincinnati the victory.
Drew Stubbs and Votto each added solo homers for the Reds.
The Brewers led off the game with back-to-back homers off Edinson Volquez, and Yovani Gallardo left with a 5-2 lead after six strong innings before the bullpen imploded.
Logan Ondrusek (1-0) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to get credit for the win.