Reds Overpower Tigers In Biggest Comeback Win Of Season
GARY SCHATZ, Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds took out a lot of frustration in one inning to snap a losing streak.
Brandon Phillips drove in four runs with a home run and a triple during Cincinnati's 10-run sixth inning and the Reds came back from a five-run deficit to snap a nine-game losing streak with a 12-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
"We just play the game as best we can and try to stay humble," Phillips said. "Even when you lose you want to have fun but I tell the young guys to never get used to losing."
Phillips didn't remember ever having a home run and at triple in one inning before.
In the makeup of a game postponed on June 18 by rain, former Detroit shortstop Eugenio Suarez homered and doubled during Cincinnati's biggest inning since scoring 10 runs against Arizona in August 2005. Fourteen Reds batted in the inning against four Detroit pitchers, including reliever Al Alburquerque (3-1), who allowed three runs while not retiring any of the three batters he faced.
"Suarez sparked us," Reds' manager Bryan Price said of the shortstop that got a chance at the big leagues due to an injury to Zach Cozart. "He's had a lot of run production in 200 at bats. I didn't anticipate that. With two strikes he gives a quality at bat."
Skip Schumaker gave the Reds a 6-5 lead with a two-run single as Tigers were setting a season-high for runs allowed in an inning on the way to their fourth straight loss .
"It was an important hit for our team. We needed some smiles around here," Schumaker said. "It was big for me. I didn't want to make two outs in the inning."
Collin Balester (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to set the stage for Cincinnati's biggest comeback of the season and earn his first major league win since 2012, when he was with Detroit. The Reds previous biggest comeback had been from a three-run deficit in an 8-5 win over Washington on May 30.
Joey Votto added his 24th homer, a two-run shot, in the eighth.
Relievers Burke Badenhop, J.J. Hoover and Aroldis Chapman finished the game.
Detroit sent nine batters to the plate in a four-run first that featured J.D. Martinez's 33rd home run — a two-run shot — and Nick Castellanos' 14th, a solo blast. Ian Kinsler scored the first run from first base on Miguel Cabrera's single to deep right.
Cabrera added an RBI double in the fourth.
Buck Farmer pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings before allowing Suarez's ninth homer and Phillips' two-run shot, his 10th. He allowed three hits and three runs with three walks and three strikeouts.
"Buck did a pretty good job," manager Brad Ausmus said. "I think he got tired. He hadn't started in a while. Then it blew up."
Reds starter Keyvius Sampson allowed nine hits for the second consecutive start. The rookie right-hander gave up five runs and with two walks and five strikeouts while throwing 100 pitches over four innings.
The Tigers finished interleague play 9-11. The Reds went 7-13.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus isn't worried about designated-hitter Victor Martinez reinjuring his twice-surgically repaired knee while playing an unfamiliar position at first base as Miguel Cabrera's backup. "I was a little bit in his first game, but I'm not worried now," Ausmus said before Monday's game. "The truth is anybody on the field could suffer a career-ending knee injury at any time."
Reds: LHP Tony Cingrani lasted just three innings for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday in his second start since coming off the seven-day disabled list with a right (non-throwing) shoulder strain. "I'm just going by the report, but it sounds like he had a little bit of a temperamental arm issue," manager Bryan Price said before Monday's Reds' game.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Detroit resumes its home stand with RHP Alfredo Simon (11-7, 4.52 ERA) starting the opener of a three-game series against the Angels.
Reds: Tuesday's start against the Dodgers will be third of LHP John Lamb's (0-1, 3.65) career and second against his hometown team. He allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings at Dodger Stadium in his major league debut on August 14.
TIGER STREAKS
Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games. He has hit safely in nine of the 10 games since returning from the disabled list. Ian Kinsler extended his streak to seven games, the third such streak this season. Kinsler was on base in all five plate appearances with his Major League leading 49th multi-hit game.
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