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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Chris Heisey did a lot of standing around before he got his chance to snap Cincinnatis historic slump. Heiseys pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth inning ended the Reds longest scoreless streak to open a season and sent Cincinnati to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night following a long rain delay. The Reds set a modern franchise record by failing to score in the first 17 innings of the season. Their previous worst was 13 scoreless innings in 1909 and 1934. It got broken by a player making only his second at-bat of the season. "Theres nothing like it," Heisey said. "Sit around 10 hours, then get one at-bat. Thats part of being a pinch-hitter." Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier opened the ninth with singles off Carlos Martinez (0-1). After a sacrifice, Brayan Pena was walked to load the bases and Heisey singled to centre. "Hits have been at premium these past two days," Heisey said. "Its nice to play close games early and get the blood pumping." The Reds were the last team in the majors to score a run this season. Heiseys hit broke an 0-for-11 slump with runners in scoring position and gave Bryan Price his first win as the Reds manager. "It feels great from a selfish standpoint," Price said. "From a team standpoint, its even better. It was important to get that first win and get the ball rolling." J.J. Hoover (1-0) pitched out of a threat in the ninth, getting Matt Adams on a called third strike with two runners aboard. "It all comes down to the big hit," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "When youre having trouble getting many of them, you just need the right one at the right time. They put it together when they had to." The NL Central rivals waited 2 hours, 40 minutes to get started. They wanted to get the game in because heavy rain was forecast for Thursday afternoon when they conclude their series. The Reds promoted it as opening night, complete with pregame player introductions and postgame fireworks. The introductions were cancelled because of the long delay, and the fireworks were shot off as the grounds crew removed the tarp and prepared the field for the first pitch. Neither starter had a problem because of the delay. Left-hander Tony Cingrani gave up a pair of singles and two walks in seven innings. He spent the off-season working on his secondary pitches. Last year, he threw his fastball 81.7 per cent of the time, the second-most by a starter in the majors, according to STATS LLC. Michael Wacha allowed three hits in 6 2-3 innings. He got shortstop Zack Cozart to ground into a forceout with the bases loaded in the fourth. Cozart saved a run with a diving catch in centre field in the eighth, grabbing Matt Carpenters sinking liner with a runner in scoring position. The defending National League champions opened the season with a 1-0 win on Monday, when Yadier Molinas seventh-inning homer made the difference. It was the first time since 1953 that the Reds were shut out on opening day. Its the first time in Great American Ball Parks 12-year history that theres been back-to-back 1-0 games. St. Louis hasnt started a season with back-to-back shutouts since 1963, when the Cardinals posted three consecutive shutouts. NOTES: RH Lance Lynn starts for the Cardinals on Thursday. He beat the Reds three times last season. RHP Homer Bailey, who missed time during spring training with a strained groin, starts for the Reds. ... Cardinals OF Jon Jay carries a 14-game hitting streak from last season. ... Joey Votto doubled in the first inning for his 1,000th career hit. ... Cingrani picked Adams off first base in the fifth inning. He led the Reds staff by picking off six runners last season. ... Reds manager Bryan Price said RH Jonathan Broxton could come off the DL during the series in St. Louis next week. Hes recovering from surgery on his pitching forearm last August. Broxton would become the closer until Chapman returns. ... C Devin Mesoraco also could be activated off the DL in St. Louis. Hes sidelined by a strained oblique. Air Max Plus Cheap . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136. Air Max Tn Black . The Toronto Argonauts (11-7) look for an opportunity to repeat as CFL champions when they host the surging Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-8) on Sunday. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-m...-270-cheap.html. - Erick Torres scored his 10th goal of the season on a stunning volley, and Chivas USA edged 10-man Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday night. Vapormax Plus Clearance .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman John-Michael Liles on injured reserve Tuesday. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Cheap . Beckham says "nothing has been confirmed yet, but its something I am very excited about." He adds that "Miami is something that really excites me because there is a great energy down there.Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart believes Ben Stokes could open the batting alongside Jason Roy for their World T20 game with Afghanistan if Alex Hales is ruled out through injury. Hales and Roy have struck up a positive partnership at the top of the order but Nottinghamshires Hales is struggling with a back problem that will be assessed on Wednesday morning ahead of the game, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 9am.James Vince appears likely to come in to replace him but former England captain Stewart is keen to see Stokes and Roy opening the batting in Delhi. It will be a huge blow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales are two very destructive players and they have created a very good opening partnership, Stewart told Sky Sports News HQ.Lets hope he is 100 per cent fit and the two of them can go out and open the batting and repeat what they did the other day against South Africa.You want to still take the attacking options and I wouldnt be against pushing Ben Stokes up the top of the order if Alex Hales isnt fit. Eoin Morgan says England will leave their decision over playing a third spinner against Afghanistan on Wednesday until the last minute. Theres James Vince there in reserve but if Ben Stokes bats for 10 or 12 overs, England will win the game, I promise you that.He doesnt open too often, perhaps just one or two occasions for Durham, but I would gamble and say to Ben go up there, show how good you are, and bat with Jason Roy.Stewart is well aware of Roys abilities, having regularly seen him oppening the batting for Surrey, and he feels he has the ability to swing a game in his teams favour in the same way Stokes can.dddddddddddd He is a destructive player. If you speak to bowlers, he is one of the last batsmen they would want to bowl to, Stewart said of Roy.He destroyed Dale Steyn in that opening over [against South Africa], to really set the tone for England to go on and win that game.Joe Root took the plaudits and rightly so but Jason Roy really took the attack to the opposition, he put them on the backfoot, to allow England to bring that run-rate down. Surrey Director of Cricket Stewart would like to see Stokes and Jason Roy bat together at the top of the order Just like Stokes, if Roy bats 10 overs in a 20-over game, that side will win more times than not.He [Roy] just needs to bat a little longer now and get 75 or even a hundred.As for Englands chances of winning the tournament, Stewart is convinced they can beat anyone on their day and could yet cause an upset.I said before the tournament started, England wont be one of the favourites but they are a very dangerous side, he added.We saw that against South Africa and although we didnt see it [in their opening defeat] against West Indies, if they are on their A game, they can beat anyone. Morgan unsure on third spinner Eoin Morgan will make late call on how many spinners will face Afghanistan I include West Indies and India in that, who are probably the two favourites, although we must not discount New Zealand.If England can repeat what they did with the bat against South Africa, they then need to be just a little bit smarter with the ball and execute their variations a little better.They can go all the way but they have to be on their A game.Watch England v Afghanistan in the World T20 on Wednesday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 9am. Also See: Moeen: Spin could be crucial Root inspires record chase Morgan unsure on third spinner Cricket video ' ' '