Reds 2-0 after Schebler’s walk-off hit

The dream of 162-0 lives for the Cincinnati Reds.

A one-out, based-loaded double to left-center field by Scott Schebler scored Eugenio Suarez and Tyler Holt in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday to give the Reds a 3-2 victory over the Phillies on Opening Night at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds jumped on Schebler near second base, pounding him on the helmet, as they celebrated their second straight 2-0 start. They’ll seek a series sweep in a 12:35 p.m. game Thursday.

“I’m extremely happy,” said Schebler, acquired in December in the Todd Frazier trade. “We grinded one out tonight. That was big. … We want it bad. That’s what this shows.”

WATCH: Schebler talks about winning hit

PHOTOS: Reds celebrate walkoff win

Schebler struck out in his first three at-bats but made up for it with his second big late-inning hit in as many games. He singled in the eighth inning Monday as the Reds rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win 6-2 on Opening Day.

Suarez started the rally in the ninth with a leadoff single. With one out, Devin Mesoraco reached on an infield single. Holt ran for Mesoraco. Jay Bruce followed with a single to left, loading the bases.

Dalier Hinojosa then allowed the game-winning hit.

“He came fastball early and then threw me a changeup,” Schebler said. “They hadn’t thrown me anything but fastballs all night. I struggled all night. I think that might have helped my timing, seeing something different. Then they went back to the fastball.”

Aaron Nola, a 22-year-old drafted seventh overall two years ago, shut down the Reds in the first seven innings. He allowed one run — a home run by Suarez in the first — on four hits.

Reds starter Brandon Finnegan allowed two earned runs in six innings. He struck out nine, allowed three hits and walked none.

“The plan was to stay in the game as a long as I could and keep us in the game,” Finnegan said. “Devin called a great game. It was fun.”

Finnegan made one big mistake. Maikel Franco hit a two-run home run to right-center field in the first. The Phillies, who scored both their runs Monday in the second, didn’t score again. Caleb Cotham and Blake Wood held Philadelphia scoreless in the last three innings.

About the Author