Hunter Greene Tames The Tigers But Suffers From Blown Save

 

  

Hunter Greene tamed the Detroit Tigers on three hits over seven innings but was a victim of a blown save. The Reds fell to a 5-3 loss to lose for the second straight day.

The bullpen gave up five runs in the eighth inning by sending 10 batters to the plate.

Greene started for the Reds while the Tigers were on a bullpen day.

Alex Faedo opened the game and allowed one hit. Rookie Beau Brieske followed and struck out the side in third.

The Reds broke through in the fifth, breaking a scoreless tie. Brieske walked Spencer Steer and Nick Martini to open the inning. Tyler Stephenson launched a double into the left center field gap to put the Reds in front. 

Greene shut out the Tigers with a stingy three-hit performance. He walked two and struck out seven. Greene pitched 19 straight starts with five or more strikeouts.

Fernando Cruz took over in the eighth. Parker Meadows doubled and pinch hitter Wenceel Perez tied the game with his fifth home run of the season. Cruz walked Matt Vierling and David Bell brought Sam Moll into the game. He walked pinch hitter Andy Ibanez. Mark Canha hit a ball off the end of the bat that got past Steer for an RBI double. Ibanez scored on a ground out by Riley Greene. Carson Kelly doubled home the fifth run of the inning against Lucas Sims.

"Hunter was outstanding," Bell said. "Give them credit they were laying off Fernando's split. He has other weapons of course. That was a good job by them. The split wasn't what he typically has. Sure I thought of sending Hunter out again. Where we were in our bullpen I felt it was the right decision."

Greene finished the seventh strong ending with 104 pitches.

"My body felt great. I didn't know that Cruz was coming in. He's been great," Greene said. "Obviously, there have been tough games for him like everybody else. I think David was ready to make that call. I have confidence in him as well."

Steer homered for the third straight game. It was his 13th of the season. Noelvi Marte singled with two outs bringing Edwin Rios to the plate representing the tying run.

Andrew Cafin entered to try to get the last out for his first save. Santiago Espinal pinch hit for Rios. Espinal struck out swinging.

"The last couple days haven't gone our way (with the tying run at the plate). On the road trip every one contributed. We just came up short the last two games," Bell said.