Reds 5, Tigers 2: Todd Frazier homers Reds past Detroit

DETROIT -- Kyle Ryan started out strong despite two early home runs, but mistakes in the seventh forced him from the game, and a deficit that the sleepy Detroit Tigers offense couldn't climb out of. The Tigers lost 5-2 to the Cincinnati Reds, splitting the two-game series in Detroit. The Tigers and Reds will now travel to Cincinnati to continue the home-and-home series.

Leave out the home runs and it's not a bad start. Excluding the fourth earned run that scored in the seventh, it wasn't a bad outing for Ryan. The offense just didn't do its job. Ryan, though, still gave up three home runs and five hits. Until the seventh inning, he had allowed just two runs, no walks, and four hits. But a leadoff home run to Frazier, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt left a runner on second and only one out.

Alex Wilson, brought in to replace Ryan, induced a groundout -- advancing the runner to third -- but a bloop single by Billy Hamilton plated another run and the Reds took a 4-2 lead. It took James McCann's cannon for an arm to gun down Hamilton, finally ending the seventh.

But Wilson got into more trouble in the eighth when he allowed back-to-back one-out singles, causing manager Brad Ausmus to go back to the bullpen for Ian Krol -- he lasted one batter before walking him. Back to the bullpen again brought out Al Alburquerque, who got a 4-3 groundout, ending a bases-loaded threat.

Joba Chamberlain started the ninth and got a quick first out, but a bad hop off the third base bag on the next at-bat gave the Reds a weak double. Jose Iglesias, usually a stellar defender, tried to then go for the fancy out and hit the runner on the right elbow instead of the sure out on the next hit, and a run scored. Chamberlain, though, induced weak contact in his inning of work, getting the final out on just three ptiches.

The offense, having fallen asleep after Monday night's scorching day at the plate, had just six hits through seven innings, getting just two runs in the first and fifth innings. Anthony Gose, who had another hot day at the plate, hit a leadoff double to start the game, and scored on the RBI single by Miguel Cabrera.

James McCann, who singled to start the fifth, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jose Iglesias and Anthony Gose's reach by the Reds' leftfielder error -- Gose also advanced to second on the error. After Ian Kinsler popped out and Cabrera was intentionally walked -- they're learning -- Yoenis Cespedes knocked an RBI single to tie the game at the time, but third base coach Dave Clark was overly aggressive and sent Gose home, who was subsequently tagged out at home ... despite the review when the Tigers challenged the call.

ROARS:

Anthony Gose: Went 2-for-3 with a double, a reach on an error and advancing to second, with a run scored in the game. He was also solid defensively.

Miguel Cabrera: Finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks -- one intentional. He flew out in his last at-bat in the eighth, but it came close to being a home run to right-center. Back in the weight room, Miggy.

Joba Chamberlain: Put aside the run that scored on an error caused by Igesias' over-eagerness to try for a flashy out. Chamberlain induced very weak contact and finished the inning on just 11 pitches, including the extra batter he had to face. Two of the outs came on just three pitches apiece. For a reliever who hadn't pitched since June 9, it was a solid outing.

HISSES:

Kyle Ryan: He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just five hits while striking out four and walking just one batter. It probably wouldn't be a bad outing except he gave up three home runs, two to Todd Frazier and another run scored from third base in the seventh.

Dave Clark: It depends on how you feel about this, but Clark shouldn't have sent Gose in the fifth inning when the Tigers had a chance to take the lead. Instead, the out at home ended the inning instead of spurring further momentum.

Tigers offense: Collectively the Tigers got just a half-dozen hits and only one went for an extra-base hit -- Gose's double. They were just 2-for-7 and left six runners on-base. It was a snooze fest offensively.

Tyler Collins: The DH didn't H at all, going 0-for-3. Honestly, completely forgot he was playing today it was such a quiet night at the plate.

STREAKS AND STATS:

• J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the sixth inning.
• Yoenis Cespedes also extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the fifth inning.
• The Tigers challenged the "out" call of Anthony Gose at home in the fifth inning. After a 3:38 review, the call on the field stood and Gose remained out, ending the fifth.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:

Source: FanGraphs