Reds Fall to Giants 6-4 in Opening Day Collapse

The Cincinnati Reds, led by manager Terry Francona, suffered a disappointing opening day loss to the San Francisco Giants, who rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to win 6-4. Francona's first day as Reds' manager started with a trip to the dentist, and ended with a blown save from Ian Gibaut, who allowed a game-tying hit followed by a three-run homer from Wilmer Flores. The Reds had initially led 3-2 before the Giants' dramatic comeback, which included 17 strikeouts by the Giants' batters throughout the game. In a later matchup, the Reds managed to secure their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Giants, thanks to strong performances from Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. The game featured a home run from Encarnacion-Strand that broke a tie in the sixth inning, while Reds' pitchers combined for a solid outing in relief. Francona's managerial debut was marked by ups and downs, as he seeks to establish a winning culture in Cincinnati.