Reds Opening Day Storylines: Cincinnati Native Brent Suter Shines Bright in Win Over Nationals
CINCINNATI — You simply could not write a better script for this year's Reds Opening Day. Making his first start in a major league game since 2022, Frankie Montas was nothing short of spectacular in his Cincinnati debut.
He worked an efficient six scoreless innings without giving up a walk or an extra base hit. No Reds Opening Day starter had done that since Frank Pastore in 1980. Tip of the cap to Jake Fraley for gunning down old friend Jesse Winker as he attempted to stretch a first inning single into a double —keeping Montas' milestone in play.
How could anyone not be happy for Nick Martini? The 33-year-old journeyman not only made the Reds roster out of spring training but was rewarded with a start on Opening Day for the first time in his career. Manager David Bell was rewarded for his decision as Martini delivered two thunderous shots that put the Nationals to bed early.
He connected on a long two-run homer in the second inning off Washington starter Josiah Gray. Then he spurred a series of "make it a double" puns on social media with his three-run shot in the third—forever immortalizing himself into the Joe Randa Reds Opening Day Hall of Fame.
Of all the great storylines to come out of Great American Ball Park on Thursday, none stood out more than Brent Suter emphatically slamming the door on an 8-2 win over the Nationals.
The Moeller High School Grad and Anderson Township resident never had the chance to attend an Opening Day game when he was younger, but the wait proved to be well worth it as the 34-year-old trotted out of the bullpen, proudly donning his hometown team's uniform.
"It was surreal," Suter said. "I just was really thankful for getting the ball. Being in this opportunity, pitching at home on Opening Day. I think that was my first Opening Day outing. So, I've never experienced kind of that Opening Day energy and it was a lot of fun."
Suter, who spent his first eight major league seasons with the Brewers and Rockies, received the full Cincinnati Opening Day experience. It started with a ride in the annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade with his family and then he had the honor of catching the ceremonial first pitch thrown out by Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey.
It was hard for Suter not to get caught up in all the festivities. Especially when Kentucky native Marlana VanHoose stepped up to sing the national anthem.
"The national anthem singer was awesome. When she hit that note up high and then you could hear the helicopters coming, I was like goosebumps through and through," he said. "It was so cool. And then the crowd was going wild. Just knowing this is my dream being lived out, I'm just so thankful. Had my family here and everything. My brother flew in and all that, so it was a really special day."
Sitting down in the Rob Butcher Interview Room deep inside GABP, Suter was smiling ear-to-ear after the game. His five-year-old son Liam planting himself on his father's lap, equally excited. And why not? His Dad just pitched a heck of a game.
"It was good," Liam said, receiving a chuckle from the media when asked about his father’s performance. "Daddy's a great baseball player."
Towing the rubber with a five-run lead in the eighth inning, Suter struck out the side, despite facing the top of the Nationals' lineup. The Cincinnati kid got the opportunity to finish things off in the ninth, this time with a six-run lead. He tallied a 1-2-3 inning, capping things off with a big swing and miss from Joey Gallo for his fourth strike of the game.
After recording the final out, Suter uncharacteristically spun around and gave a little flex as his teammates came running in to celebrate the win.
"I don't show emotion that much out there, but I thought the circumstances justified it a little bit. It just felt good making some 3-2 pitches out there, where I wanted to," Suter said. "I thought I had all my pitches working today and just getting that last out and turning around and seeing Jonathan India going like, "Yeah!" It was really cool. It was really fun ending to a great game."
It wasn't a pre-determined priority for Manager David Bell to get Suter into the game, but the circumstances of the game lined up perfectly for the former Moeller Crusader to make his Reds debut.
"That's his role for us," Bell said. "Another pitcher that can be efficient, give us length. That was the spot. He throws strikes. If you have a lead like that, to be able to bring someone in that can get multiple innings and throw strikes, we've been seeing that from the other side for years. It was a perfect spot for him."
It was a day that Suter and his family will cherish this forever. One that he said would be celebrated, but after the off day today, it's back to business.
"Saturday we got a brand new game and we gotta bring it to beat these guys," Suter said. "It's a good team over there."
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JAMES RAPIEN
James Rapien covers the Bengals and Reds for Sports Illustrated's AllBengals.com and InsidetheReds.com. He's one-half of the Locked on Bengals Podcast. He's also the co-owner/creator of Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. He earned a journalism degree from the University of Cincinnati and has spent the majority of his professional career in the Queen City. Rapien previously covered the Cavaliers and Indians in Cleveland. He has a background in radio, which includes stops at 700 WLW, ESPN 1530 and 92.3 The Fan. He loves a good trade rumor and uses copious amounts of hot sauce on his food. Cincinnati chili is his go-to meal, followed by gallons of mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. When he isn't working or eating, he's probably walking his dog Finley or spending time with family.