April 6, 2015
Reds 5, Pirates 2
87
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
CINCINNATI — Getting ready for first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds, 129th National League season opener, 4:10 p.m., Great American Ball Park
Pitchers: LHP Francisco Liriano vs. RHP Johnny Cueto
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Official game notes
Great American Ball Park is all dressed up for opening day and this year’s All-Star Game. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
UPDATE 12:05 p.m.: And here is the Pirates’ opening lineup …
- Josh Harrison, 3B
- Gregory Polanco, RF
- Andrew McCutchen, CF
- Neil Walker, 2B
- Starling Marte, LF
- Pedro Alvarez, 3B
- Francisco Cervelli, C
- Jordy Mercer, SS
- Liriano, LHP
12:31 p.m.: In his media session, Clint Hurdle explained the decision to recall Rob Scahill over John Holdzkom as one based on Scahill being stretched out and taking the place of Vance Worley in the pen now that Worley is in the rotation. … Hurdle said he expects Alvarez to have “a bounce-back season” and lavished praise on his offense in the spring, calling it “by far the best spring he’s had since I’ve been here.” … Hurdle cited the importance of baseball to Cincinnati, home of the National League’s longest-standing franchise. “Opening day is always special. To have it in this city, where they’re out there having that traditional parade right now, makes it doubly special.”
I asked Hurdle about batting Polanco second …
1:18 p.m.: Interviewed a whole bunch of people for this video just now …
If you missed the season preview column last night, here it is again. I’ll have another column tonight after the game, after which it’s a drive back home to Pittsburgh, then a flight up to Ottawa first thing in the morning.
4:10 p.m.: Here we go …
First pitch: Johnny Cueto to Josh Harrison, 4:10 p.m., 68 degrees, cloudy. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
