By Joe Kay
The Associated Press

Ken Griffey Jr. made history with his first-inning double - the first hit at Great American Ball Park. With a chance to get the Reds back into the game, he struck out.

That's how things are going at the new park, where everyone but the home team is having fun.

PHOTO GALLERIES

• Game • Parade

Reggie Sanders, Kenny Lofton and Jason Kendall homered in the second inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ruined the Reds' inaugural game at their new ballpark with a 10-1 victory Monday.

"It was disappointing," said shortstop Barry Larkin, who caught a ceremonial first pitch from former President George Bush. "One game or not, it's still opening day. We got beat up out there. It's not fun."

All of the fun for the capacity crowd came in the first inning, when Griffey doubled for the ballpark's first official hit.

The crowd was on its feet again the next time he came to bat, with the bases loaded and the Pirates ahead 6-1 in the third. Kris Benson went to a full count, then got Griffey to swing wildly at a high, 92 mph fastball.

"I just swung at a bad pitch, plain and simple," said Griffey, who was 1-for-4. "He got the ball up and I chased it. Those things happen on opening day."

A bunch of newcomers made things happen for the Pirates, who signed Sanders and Lofton during spring training to upgrade their outfield. Sanders' two-run homer started a six-run rally in the second.

Sanders, a key member of the Reds' 1995 playoff team, was stunned and thrilled to hit the first homer in their new place.

"When it's your first at-bat of the season, you don't expect to hit a home run," Sanders said. "It's all about timing, being in the right place at the right time. I enjoyed my time here, and getting the opportunity to open their new stadium and hit the first homer is very exciting."

The crowd of 42,343 waved flags during a patriotic pregame program, then bundled together on a 53-degree afternoon and watched the NL's worst offense last season have its way with the Cincinnati pitching staff.

The Pirates batted around in the second against Jimmy Haynes. After Sanders' homer, Haynes walked Benson before giving up a three-run homer to Lofton. Kendall's solo shot came five pitches later.

"One really bad inning," lamented Haynes, who had never started an opener. "It was tough to go out there and give up three home runs in one inning."

By then, the park was filled with catcalls and the home team was headed for its third straight loss in the new place. The Reds have been outscored 19-3 while losing two exhibitions to Cleveland and the regular-season opener.

Benson gave up three hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings to win his first opening-day start. Pokey Reese's error at second helped the Reds load the bases in the third, and Benson walked Austin Kearns to force in Cincinnati's lone run - unearned, at that.

Benson also had three strikeouts, the biggest one against Griffey.

"He's always a tough out for me," Benson said. "I was thinking the whole time that this is going to decide the game. If he gets a double or base hit and scores a couple runs, they're right back in it."

With one mighty swing and miss, the Reds' best chance was gone, leaving them with another lopsided inaugural loss. They also lost their first game at Riverfront Stadium in 1970, 8-2 to the Atlanta Braves. Hank Aaron hit the first homer in that one.

Baseball's first professional team remembered its past during pregame ceremonies, minus its most prominent player. Hits king Pete Rose couldn't participate because of his lifetime ban for gambling.

Commissioner Bud Selig stayed off the field, knowing he'd get harsh treatment for refusing to let Rose participate in Cinergy Field's closing or Great American's opening.

Reds owner Carl Lindner began the afternoon with a tribute to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. Fans waved 6-by-9-inch flags that were placed on each seat.

Daniel Rodriguez - the "Singing Policeman" from New York City - performed the national anthem, and dozens of red, white and blue streamers were shot from the rooftop as the crowd chanted "USA! USA! USA!"

Notes: The Pirates hadn't won a season opener since a 4-0 victory over Montreal in 1998. ... Before the game, the Reds dedicated a statue of former slugger Ted Kluszewski on the plaza outside the main gate. More statues will be added later in the season, honoring players from the Crosley Field era. ... The Pirates will unveil a bronze statue in honor of Ralph Kiner during the April 7 home opener against Milwaukee. ... Current President Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch before the inaugural game at Pittsburgh's PNC Park two years ago. The Reds won that game 8-2. ... The last time the Pirates hit three homers in an inning was July 4, 2000, when Kendall, Wil Cordero and Pat Meares connected in the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. ... Griffey remained tied for the second-most opening day homers with seven. Frank Robinson holds the record with eight.

• Game Photos • Parade photos
• Poll: Grade the stadium
• New ballpark adds to thrill

PITTSBURGH             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
K Lofton cf             4  2  2  3   1  0   0  .500
J Kendall c             5  1  1  1   0  0   3  .200
B Giles lf              4  1  1  1   1  0   0  .250
A Ramirez 3b            5  1  2  0   0  2   1  .400
R Simon 1b              4  2  2  1   0  0   2  .500
 K Young 1b             1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
R Sanders rf            5  1  3  2   0  2   0  .600
P Reese 2b              3  1  1  2   1  0   2  .333
J Wilson ss             3  0  0  0   1  1   3  .000
 J Tavarez p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 J Beimel p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
K Benson p              1  1  0  0   1  1   3  .000
 A Nunez ss             1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000

Totals                 36 10 12 10   5  6  14

BATTING: 2B - R Simon 2 (2, J Haynes, J Riedling);
B Giles (1, G White).
HR - R Sanders (1, 2nd inning off J Haynes 1 on, 1 Out),
K Lofton (1, 2nd inning off J Haynes 2 on, 2 Out)
J Kendall (1, 2nd inning off J Haynes 0 on, 2 Out). S - K 
Benson. SF - P Reese. RBI - R Sanders 2 (2), K Lofton 3 (3),
J Kendall (1), P Reese 2 (2), R Simon (1), B Giles (1).
2-out RBI - K Lofton 3, J Kendall, B Giles.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Kendall 1,
K Benson 2, A Ramirez 1. Team LOB - 6. 
 
FIELDING: E - P Reese (1, ground ball); A Ramirez (1,
ground ball). DP: 1 (J Tavarez-A Nunez-K Young). 
 

CINCINNATI             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
B Larkin ss             3  0  0  0   1  0   2  .000
A Boone 2b              4  0  0  0   0  0   2  .000
K Griffey Jr cf         4  0  1  0   0  1   3  .250
A Kearns rf             3  0  0  1   1  1   1  .000
A Dunn lf               4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .000
S Casey 1b              4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .250
B Larson 3b             4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .000
J LaRue c               3  0  0  0   1  1   1  .000
J Haynes p              1  1  1  0   0  0   0 1.000
 a-W Pena ph            1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .000
 F Heredia p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 S Sullivan p           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 J Riedling p           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 b-R Taylor ph          1  0  1  0   0  0   0 1.000
 G White p              0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 S Williamson p         0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000

Totals                 32  1  4  1   3  4  14

a-flied out to left for J Haynes in the 4th;
b-singled to deep right for J  Riedling in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (1, K Benson); J Haynes
(1, K Benson). RBI - A  Kearns (1). 2-out RBI - A Kearns.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A 
Dunn 2, A Kearns 1. GIDP - B Larkin. Team LOB - 7. 
 
FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Kearns-J Riedling-B Larkin-B Larson-B Larkin). 
 

----------------------------------------------------
    PITTSBURGH      - 060 010 210   --  10
    CINCINNATI      - 001 000 000   --   1
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
K Benson (W, 1-0)             6 1/3   3   1   0   3   3   0   0.00
J Tavarez                     1 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0.00
J Beimel                      1       1   0   0   0   1   0   0.00

CINCINNATI                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
J Haynes (L, 0-1)             4       5   6   6   3   3   3  13.50
F Heredia                       1/3   1   1   1   1   0   0  27.00
S Sullivan                    1 2/3   1   0   0   1   2   0   0.00
J Riedling                    1       3   2   2   0   0   0  18.00
G White                       1       2   1   1   0   0   0   9.00
S Williamson                  1       0   0   0   0   1   0   0.00

Pitches-strikes: K Benson 104-58; J Tavarez 11-7; J Beimel 9-7;
J Haynes  87-46; F Heredia 14-5; S Sullivan 29-19; J Riedling 13-9;
G White 26-17; S  Williamson 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls:
K Benson 4-12; J Tavarez 5-0; J Beimel 2-0; J Haynes 7-2;
F Heredia 0-1; S Sullivan 1-2; J Riedling 0-2; G White 0-3; 
J Haynes 20; F Heredia 3; S Sullivan 7; J Riedling 5; G White 5;
S Williamson 3. 
 
UMPIRES: HP--Randy Marsh. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson.
3B--Sam  Holbrook. 

T--3:00. Att--42,343.