REDS BEATEN BY PHILLIES IN OPENER

Reds fall behind early, leave seven on base, come up a run short in season opener.

A large opening day gift CINCINNATI — basket sat on a table in Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price’s office after the game Monday. It had popcorn, a bottle of wine and other tasty treats. On another table, a plaque commemorated Price’s fourth opener in Cincinnati.

The gifts were great, but Price would have rather left Great American Ball Park with a victory.

Instead, the Reds fell behind by three runs after two innings, left seven men on base and fell 4-3 to the Philadelphia

Phillies in the 141st opening day in franchise history.

“We had some opportunities,” Price said. “I think we have a really nice looking lineup. There will be days when we take advantage of those opportunities.”

Here are five things to know about

the game:

1. Almost a hero: Scooter Gennett, hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth to give the Reds a brief glimmer of hope. Billy Hamilton followed with a game-ending fly out to center.

Gennett, a former Brewer, had five home runs in 98 at-bats at Great American Ball Park in his career. He hadn’t hit more than two home runs at another stadium, except his former home park in Milwaukee. This was his first game in Cincinnati as a Red.

“It’s tough,” Gennett said. “I’d like to be happy right now, but I can’t say I’m happy because we didn’t win.”

GREG LYNCH / STAFF Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart is late with the tag as the Phillies’ Maikel Franco scores from first on a two-out double to left-center field by Michael Saunders to cap a two-run first inning Monday. The Reds trailed 3-0 after two innings and never took...