Reds Open ’90 Season vs. Astros

The Cincinnati Reds open the National League’s 1990 season April 2 against the Houston Astros in the Reds’ traditional home opener.

It will be the first time since 1978 that the Reds and Astros have played on opening day.

The Reds will be trying for their eighth consecutive opening day victory, having defeated Atlanta, New York, Montreal, Philadelphia, Montreal, St. Louis and Los Angeles the past seven seasons in openers.

The Reds, who date their origin to 1869, traditionally open the National League’s season at home each year as baseball’s oldest professional team.

The 1990 opener will mark the 104th time in the Reds’ 106 seasons in the National League that the team has opened a season at home. In 1877 and 1966, the Reds started the season on the road because of rainouts at home.

The Reds beat Houston 11-9 in the 1978 season opener and also defeated Houston in the 1976 opener. The Astros won the only other opener between the teams, in 1964.

The 1990 opener begins a three-game series with Houston. The Reds said they will announcetheir full 1990 home schedule soon.

The Reds skidded to fifth place in the National League West this season after four consecutive second-place finishes. Cincinnati’s 75-87 record was its first losing record since going 70-92 in 1984.