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 That was before the Reds snapped their nine-game losing streak in
emphatic fashion.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips hit a two-run home run, and
shortstop Eugenio Suarez added a solo shot to spark a 10-run sixth
inning, lifting the Reds to a 12-5 victory over Detroit, which lost
its four straight.
Suarez went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, three RBIs and three
runs, and Phillips went 2-for-4 with a homer, a triple and four RBIs
as the Reds (52-71) prevented what would have been their first
10-game losing streak since 1998.
"We needed something positive to happen around here," said
Cincinnati left fielder Skip Schumaker, who hit a two-run single in
the sixth. "It was a good way to (end the losing streak), to fight
back. Nice to see some smiles in here, for sure."
Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto added a two-run homer in the
eighth off Guido Knudson. Collin Balester (1-0) pitched two
scoreless innings to earn the victory.
The Tigers grabbed the early lead on home runs by right fielder J.D.
Martinez and third baseman Nick Castellanos.
Detroit right-hander Buck Farmer pitched well in his first start
since July 31. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed only three runs on three
hits, but two were sixth-inning homers that sparked the Reds' rally.
Suarez hit a solo shot off Farmer, his ninth. Following a walk to
Votto, Phillips crushed his 10th homer just inside the left field
foul pole, cutting the Tigers' lead to 5-3.
"I had some success," Farmer said. "Things were going good. We were
hitting the ball. Then, in that one inning, things fell (apart). A
couple hits fell in ..."
Detroit (59-65) then went to its bullpen, and the move didn't work
out.
Right fielder Jay Bruce's RBI double off Al Alburquerque made it a
one-run game. Alburquerque (3-1) took the loss after allowing three
runs without retiring a batter.
Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out against Tom Gorzelanny.
Neftali Feliz came on and fanned pinch hitter Ivan De Jesus Jr.
before allowing left fielder Schumaker's two-run single on a 1-2
pitch, putting the Reds ahead 6-5.
"One guy after the next came up with a big at-bat," Reds manager
Bryan Price said. "Guys took advantage of some mistakes."
A bloop two-run double to right by Suarez and a two-run triple by
Phillips, both off Feliz, capped Cincinnati's first 10-run inning
since 2005.
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The Tigers provided Farmer with an early cushion.
Consecutive singles by second baseman Ian Kinsler and first baseman
Miguel Cabrera put runners at first and third. Kinsler went 3-for-3
to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
Martinez then homered on a 1-0 pitch from Reds rookie right-hander
Keyvius Sampson into the home bullpen in left-center, putting
Detroit ahead 3-0.
While Martinez launched a missile, Castellanos' homer two batters
later was a majestic fly to left, making the score 4-0.
Cabrera's double down the left field line scored Kinsler with
Detroit's fifth run in the fourth.
After throwing 100 pitches through four innings, Sampson's night was
done. He allowed five runs and nine hits.
Farmer, meanwhile, held the Reds hitless until center fielder Jason
Bourgeois' single with one out in the fifth. An inning later, Farmer
could only watch from the bench as Cincinnati pounded out hit after
hit.
"Buck did a pretty good job," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "I
think he got tired. He hadn't started in a while. Then it blew up."
NOTES: Cincinnati had its first 10-run inning since August 19, 2005
vs. Arizona. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips became the first major
league player to homer and triple in an inning since Toronto's Edwin
Encarnacion did so May 7, 2014, vs. Philadelphia. ... Tigers 1B
Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games with a
first-inning single. ... The pitching matchup for the postponed game
June 18 was Tigers RHP Justin Verlander vs. Reds RHP Mike Leake, who
has since been traded to the Giants. Both of Monday's starting
pitchers -- Tigers RHP Buck Farmer and Reds RHP Keyvius Sampson --
were in the minors at the time. ... Reds RHP Collin Balester earned
his first victory since May 15, 2012, while a member of the Tigers.
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