Dateline: Cincinnati
The game did not start out well for Andrew Abbott but "Mighty Mouse" in the person of Matt McLain and Nathaniel Lowe both hit their first two home runs of the season to slay the Detroit Tigers, 9-8.
Abbott gave up Riley Greene's third home run to lead off the second inning. It got worse in the third inning. Javier Baez hit his second home run to lead off the second inning. It just reached the seats barely out of center fielder Dane Myer's reach. One out later Torres walked again. Kevin McGonigle singled and Matt Vierling found the right center field gap for a two-run double.
The Reds returned from a 5-0 deficit to win their seventh one-run game of the season.
Framber Valdez, the Tigers' starter gave up a lead off single to Myers but he was erased on a double play by McLain. Sal Stewart started the bottom of the second with a walk. Spencer Steers hot smash eluded the glove of Baez at short. After Lowe, who replaced an ailing Eugenio Suarez, flied out to center. Stewart and Steer pulled a double steal. Tyler Stephenson and Rece Hinds struck out to stall the Reds. In the third McLain and Elly De La Cruz walked with two outs. Stewart hit the ball really hard but on a line at the head of left fielder, Greene who picked it off.
Detroit built a 5-0 lead in the fourth.
Spencer Torkelson doubled to start the frame. Abbott got two quick outs but Jahmai Jones singled to score Torkelson.
Abbott was able to last just four innings. He was charged with five runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out four. Abbott's ERA skied to 6.59.
"I'm doing the same as I've done every other year and I'm not going to shy away from it," Abbott said defiantly. "It is like every two hitters, I'm locked in and everything is going well. Then one hitter I'm sporadic. It takes off from there. Then the next inning the same thing. One hitter I'm on the next I'm not. What I'm trying to do is eliminate the lulls in the game. You can have a lull in the season. Everyone is going to have one but lulling in the game can't happen. Tonight it was poor execution on my part."
Kyle Nicolas relievcd Abbott and walked the first two batters he faced. He got out of the inning by getting his childhood friend Dillon Dingler to hit the ball back to him for a 1-4-3 double play.
McLain hit his first home run of the season. He followed a walk to Myers with a long home run to center off the base of the batter's eye, 421 feet from home plate. De La Cruz singled and knocked Valdez out of the game.
"He looked like the kid that we saw in spring training," Francona said of McLain. "In his first at bat he hit the ball right up the middle. It was a really pretty swing and he barreled it up. You hope he doesn't try to do more and he didn't. The ball jumped off his bat."
Kyle Finnegan relieved Valdez. De La Cruz was thrown out stealing. Stewart struck out swinging.
Valdez pitched 4 1/3 innings allowed two runs on four hits. His five walks caused the early exit. He struck out four.
The Tigers loaded the bases against Nicolas in the sixth with singles by Greene and Colt Keith and a walk to Torkelson.
Pierce Johnson came on to face Baez with no outs and the bases full.
Baez his a one hopper to De La Cruz at short. He threw home to retire Greene. Stephenson threw to first and Baez was called out but the call was overturned on review. Pinch hitter Kerry Carpentet lined into an unassisted double play to De La Cruz.
Nathaniel Lowe hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. Lowe was signed as a non-roster free agent and had to earn a spot on the roster.
"During the signing process, Tito shot me straight and Brad (Meador) shot me straight. The guys understand that I might not be an everyday factor but there are going to be times that I can help the team win. To get a swing off like that against a Hall of Famer. Thankfully I was ready to go and we really like the result," Lowe said.
Rain poured at the end of the sixth and the game was delayed for an hour and 49 minutes. The Reds were lucky their was a window after the rain. It was an official game with the Reds trailing 5-3.
"We had to push a little bit," Francona said. "I just wanted to play nine."
Brock Burke came on for the Reds to start the seventh.
Will Vest entered the game for Detroit. He walked Myers and went to a full count on McLain with a 3-1 pitch that McLain thought he walked on. It was called a strike. Vest now wishes it was a walk because McLain lined his second home run of the game into the Reds' bullpen to tie the game. De La Cruz followed with his second single and moved to second when Stewart grounded slowly to third. Steer struck out. Tigers' manager A.J. Hinch brought in left hander Brant Hurter to face Lowe. He grounded to Baez at second but his throw eluded Torkelson at first. De La Cruz scored and Lowe went to second. Tyler Stephenson doubled to put the Reds ahead 7-5.
"The bullpen has been picking us up all year," McLain said. "This one felt good."
It was the first time, McLain had a multi home run game in the regular season. He had one this past spring training.
"It was just the approach. Just being on time and trying to drive the fastball to right," McLain said.
Tony Santillan started the eighth for the Reds.
He struck out Greene but Torkelson launched his third home run of the season into the upper deck in left field. It was the first run Santillan has allowed in 12 appearances, covering 10 2/3 innings. Cole Keith singled and after Baez lined out. Kerry Carpenter put the Tigers back on top with his sixth home run of the year.
Drew Anderson faced pinch hitter TJ Friedl to start the Reds' eighth. Friedl struck out swinging. Meyers lost a challenge on a 3-2 pitch and McLain flied out to left.
Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless ninth.
Kenley Jansen entered in the bottom of the ninth for a save try.
De La Cruz led off for the Reds. He flied out to left. Stewart struck out. Steer singled to right with two strikes on him. Lowe hit his second home run to win it for the Reds.
"We're trying to keep the game going. Lowe had a pretty swing earlier. Jansen's been carving up lefties though. He got a cutter and because of that we get to go home happy," Francona said.
No comments:
Post a Comment