National League Roundup : Reds’ 9-Run Inning Turns Boos to Cheers

High expectations had taken their toll by the second inning Monday in Cincinnati, where the Reds, picked by some to win the West Division title, were being booed by a regular-season record crowd of 55,166 after falling behind, 4-0. Turns out the fans should have been more patient.

In the fourth, the Reds sent 12 batters to the plate against three Montreal pitchers and scored nine runs to key an 11-5 opening day victory over the Expos.

“It was an explosion,” Red Manager Pete Rose said. “It was fun to see. Nine-run innings don’t come that often.”

Said Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers: “It seemed like that fourth inning took an hour and a half. We just couldn’t get out of that inning. I wasn’t smart enough to find a way out of it.”

Eric Davis reached base twice in the fourth, stole second base twice and scored twice. The nine-run inning was Cincinnati’s most productive since the Reds scored 10 times in one inning against the New York Mets May 4, 1985.

“That particular inning was my time, but we’ve got eight guys who contribute,” said Davis, who went 3 for 3 with a homer, two singles and two walks. “All the hitters are tough on this team.”

Terry Francona and Barry Larkin hit two-run homers in the fourth to help the Reds to their fifth consecutive season-opening win.

A. Bartlett Giamatti, the new league president, was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, but he was involved in negotiations with umpires in New York and couldn’t attend. Former commissioner A.B. (Happy) Chandler, 88, filled in for Giamatti--and bounced the ceremonial first pitch in the dirt.

San Francisco 4, San Diego 3--Chili Davis singled home Jeffrey Leonard from second base with two out in the 12th inning, giving the Giants the victory before 52,020 at San Francisco and spoiling Larry Bowa’s debut as Padre manager.

The Giants, who had only three hits through seven innings against Eric Show, tied the score, 3-3, with a three-run rally in the eighth.

Dave Dravecky, the fourth San Diego pitcher, retired the first two hitters in the 12th before Leonard and Bob Melvin singled. Davis then drove a 1-and-0 pitch to right, scoring Leonard.

“It wasn’t the prettiest base hit, but it fell in,” Davis said. “I had no doubt in my mind that we were going to win the ballgame.”