Cincinnati Reds: All-time greatest moments at Great American Ball Park

The Cincinnati Reds have called Great American Ball Park home since 2003. Let’s look back at some of the most iconic moments in the history of GABP.

There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about over the past couple of years for the Cincinnati Reds, but that hasn’t always been the case. It’s no secret that the Queen City is a city of baseball, and the Reds have given our city some awesome moments since Great American Ball Park opened in 2003.

Crosley Field will hold a special place in the hearts of Reds fans. The birthplace of night games and home to Reds until 1970, Crosley Field is one of the most iconic stadiums in baseball history. Riverfront Stadium saw it share of great moments. The Reds won three World Championships while calling Riverfront home and fans also saw Pete Rose hit his record-breaking 4,192nd hit.

While GABP has yet to see a World Series banner, it has seen its fair share of primetime moments. I wanted to explore some of my fondest memories as a Reds fan, and what I believe to be some of the best moments within the Reds’ home by the Ohio River.

5. Homer Bailey’s no-hitter against the Giants

It may seem that no-hitters are becoming a more frequent occurrence in Major League Baseball. However, before September 28, 2012, a Cincinnati Reds player hadn’t pitched one since Tom Browning‘s masterpiece in 1988.

When the Reds were one of the best teams in baseball in 2012, Bailey threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The only problem with Bailey’s performance in that game was where it was played. Bailey’s no-no was on the road at PNC Park, so many Reds fans didn’t get the opportunity to see it in person.

Well, Reds fans would not have to wait long to see one of their own throw another no-no. Little did anyone guess it’d be the same pitcher. A year later, Bailey toed the rubber against the San Francisco Giants just before the Fourth of July. Homer Bailey actually held a perfect game through seven innings until he had a leadoff walk to Gregor Blanco.

In the top of the ninth inning, Bailey leapt into the air to snag a would-be single and tossed the ball to Joey Votto at first base to retire the first batter of the inning. A 2-2 fastball the next batter in the Giants order induced a swing and a miss. Bailey had just one more batter to lock up his second no-hitter.

With the Reds winning 3-0 and Bailey just one out away from another no-hitter the crowd at Great American Ball Park rose to their feet. Having thrown 108 pitches already, Bailey set and turned one loose. A routine grounder to third saw Todd Frazier scoop the ball and throw it Votto, securing Bailey’s no-hit bid.

Bailey recorded nine strikeouts and walked only one batter to complete his second career no-hitter with a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, who just a year earlier tore Cincinnati’s heart out in the playoffs and ultimately won the World Series.

I believe this second no-hitter ended up hurting Cincinnati in the long run, we felt rushed to sign Homer Bailey to a massive contract extension, Johnny Cueto walked, Bailey kept getting hurt and the rest is history. Oh well, at least we have that awesome no-hitter(s) to fall back on for when times get tough.

4. Scooter Gennett hits 4 home runs in a single game

Scooter Gennett became the first Reds player to ever hit 4 home runs in a single game (and it was against the St. Louis Cardinals, making it that much better), and only the 17th player at the time to ever do it in the Major Leagues.

Gennett’s first home run came in the bottom of the third inning, when he sent a grand slam into the seats in right. His second round-tripper, in the bottom of the fourth inning, was a shot to right-center field with a runner on third base. That homer made the score 10-0.

Call to the Pen

Gennett stepped to the plate again in the bottom of the sixth, this time with the bases empty and a new pitcher on the mound. But, the result was the same. Only this time it was an opposite field shot to left field just over the wall.

Gennett came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with Scott Schebler on first base after drawing a walk. He took an 0-2 pitch and lined it over the right field wall to become the first Red ever to hit four long balls in a single game.

It was amazing to see a Reds player take advantage of the hitter friendly Great American Ball Park to create history right before the city’s eyes. Gennett recorded 10 RBIs that night while going a perfect 5-5 at the plate. That’s having a great day at the office.

Joey Votto and Drew Stubbs had each previously had a three-home run performance in a single game, but not four. The previous four-home run game before Gennett’s in 2017 was former Cincinnati Reds outfielder, Josh Hamilton, who did it for the Texas Rangers in 2012.

Scooter was claimed off waivers earlier in the year from the Brewers and brought into the Reds organization as a utility player that could be plugged into different positions on regular players’ nights off. Little did Cincinnati know they’d be getting a slugger who would eventually become a fan favorite in our city.

3. Michael Lorenzen’s 3-run home run against the Dodgers

August 19, 2016 was not just another game for Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen, like he usually does, came in as a relief pitcher in the seventh inning. However, when Lorenzen took the field, the song “Who Are You?” by The Who was playing over the GABP speakers.

Michael was just activated from the bereavement list following the passing of Clif Lorenzen, Michael’s father. Clif’s favorite band was The Who. It was a simple gesture by Lorenzen to pay homage to his late father. Little did Lorenzen know that there was a bigger gesture in store when he came up to bat.

In the bottom of the seventh, in only Lorenzen’s fourth at-bat of the year, Michael stepped to the plate with two men on. No one expected such an important and spectacular moment to come out of something so sad.

It only took one pitch, a 97-MPH fastball off of Dodger’s pitcher Pedro Baez, and he took it deep to right-center field to help seal the game for the Redlegs. It was Lorenzen’s first Major League home run. As he crossed the plate, Lorenzen pointed to the sky as if to acknowledge what we all were thinking. Moments later Lorenzen emerged from the dugout for a curtain call.

I think it’s moments like this, the magic and miraculous ones, that most of us are sports fans to begin with, and it happened in our very own backyard at GABP. I believe sports has a way of influencing our world and showing that sometimes it’s bigger than just a game played on a field of some sort. That’s why I love this moment with Reds relief pitcher, Michael Lorenzen.

1. Jay Bruce hits a walk-off homer to win the NL Central

When Jay Bruce stepped into the batters box in the bottom of the ninth inning on September 28, 2010, the Cincinnati Reds had not seen the playoffs since 1995. That year the Reds went on to the National League Championship Series against the eventual World Series Champion Atlanta Braves.

With the National League Central Division crown within their grasp and the 2010 season winding down, fans of the Cincinnati Reds were getting anxious. The playoff drought had been maddening, especially for a baseball town like Cincinnati.

With the game knotted at two runs a piece, Bruce stepped to the plate. He lifted his left arm towards the backstop like he always does, moving the sleeve up his arm. The first pitch from left-handed pitcher, Tim Byrdak, was a 90-mph fastball down the heart of the plate. Bruce swung, made contact and immediately threw his hand in the air as he knew he got a hold of it.

There was never a doubt as that ball sailed into the night’s sky and straight to center, clearing the farthest part of the ball park with ease. The stadium erupted as fans were going crazy having witnessed one of the greatest moments in the history of the franchise.

The Reds went on to play the Philadelphia Phillies and we all know how that went, so we’ll leave that out of it. This was, in my opinion, the greatest moment in Great American Ball Park history, as it snapped the drought that this baseball town had been forced to endure for 15 years.