Series Recap: Reds Split with Tigers

The Cincinnati Reds were able to split the two game series between the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday Night. As covered earlier the Monday night game did not go as planned with the Reds were two hit and scored upon six times. Tuesday Night’s game went much more to plan with a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Game Summary:

The first inning for the Detroit Tigers started like many. The get’em on, get’em over, and get’em in method worked like it has many times before, With Anthony Gose sitting at Second Base, Miguel Cabrera singled past the Brandon Phillips who was shifted towards the Second Base Bag.

1-0 Tigers.

Neither team would score in innings two, three or four. Both however, would score in the fifth. Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce would go Back to Back for solo jacks to take the lead 2-1. However, the Tigers would have a bizarre play of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With two on and two out, the Reds elected to walk Cabrera to face Yeonis Cespedes. With the bases now loaded, Cespedes would hit a rocket up the middle that would ricochet off Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen and carum into foul territory. One run would score on the single, but a second runner would be thrown out at the plate. The play was reviewed and went in favor of the Reds defense, 2-2.

Jun 16, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) in intentionally walked in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

From this point on it was all Reds. In the Seventh inning, Frazier would again hit another homerun for his 20th on the season. Jay Bruce would eventually get on, and Billy Hamilton would drive him in on a bloop single to Center Field, 4-2 Reds. Hamilton would then be thrown out stealing for just the fifth time this season. Hamilton would also be picked off Second Base later in the contest.

Jun 16, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) is tagged out by Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) trying to steal second base in the seventh inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Reds would score one more time in the game. WIth Chris Dominguez leading off Second Base, Hamilton would hit a high chopper towards the Short Stop, but very shallow. Jose Iglesias would glove the high chopper and try to shovel pass the ball over to third to try and nab the advancing Dominguez. His thrown hit Dominguez and carried over into foul territory. Dominguez would advance home to score on the throwing error, and Hamilton would stop at Second Base where he would be picked off just pitches later.

Aroldis Chapman would come in and do what Chapman does. He slammed the door with back to back 103 MPH fastballs to end the game and tie the series.

Jun 16, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Cincinnati won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports