Todd Walker breaks into his home-run trot. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        For a guy who doesn't like Opening Day, the Reds' Todd Walker sure had a good one. How does 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles sound? And two runs scored? And how about the key double play he started with two on and one out in the first inning by snaring a hard grounder, wide left, off Fred McGriff's bat and spinning to throw a perfect feed to shortstop Barry Larkin to relay to first?

        Not bad for a guy who a day earlier was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of a Reds coach. Coach Tom Hume was hitting balls to first base when Walker was fielding a ground ball, wide left, at second base.

        “Yeah, my ears are still ringing, but it's not for the reason they were ringing Sunday,” said Walker, referring to the cheers Monday for his offense and defense. “I wouldn't recommend getting smoked in the head as a way of getting ready.”

        The victorious team doesn't get extra points for winning on Opening Day, although given the hype, it should. Considering the 27-54 home record the Reds had last year, maybe just winning the way they did Monday is enough reward.

        For the most part, the Reds played defense, pitched well in the clutch and got people on base — then got them over and in.

        It was easy to overlook the “little ball” the Reds were playing, what with all hoopla.

        “It's tough to play (real baseball) on Opening Day because of (everybody being jacked up),” Walker said. “You've got to keep your wits about you, and I think, for the most part, we did that. That's pretty impressive considering all the excitement out there.”

        He compared the Opening Day atmosphere to a football game.

        “I don't feel comfortable playing on Opening Day,” he said. “Baseball's a game you relax and play through the months of June, July and August, and there's not too much hype to it. Opening Day is unusual in that it's a big deal.

        “(Normally) when you're playing so many games (during the season), you have room for mistakes and room to feel comfortable. But on Opening Day, you don't necessarily feel you have that room. You feel like you have to be perfect.”

        Walker was darned near perfect (3-for-4). And given there is no way around it — there will always be Opening Days — he would rather play them here than elsewhere.

        “It's tough to beat these fans,” he said. “I know some days it's going to be rough and some days it's going to be good, because there are a bunch of booers in the stands. And that's not necessarily the case in Denver and Minnesota. ... But the good part is, when you do well, there are no better fans in the world (than Cincinnati's).”

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