Spencer Torkelson homers in 5th straight as Tigers avoid sweep by Reds

CINCINNATI – The Detroit Tigers were nearly swept by the Cincinnati Reds.

Hao-Yu Lee saved the day.

The 23-year-old hit the first home run of his MLB career – a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning that carried the Tigers to an 8-3 win over the Reds on Sunday, April 26, in the finale of the three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

The milestone homer from Lee produced the first two of six runs across the seventh and eighth innings. The Tigers (15-14) salvaged the series against the Reds (18-10) while completing a stretch of 13 games in 13 days.

INJURY REPORT: Justin Verlander injury update: ‘Very positive.’ What about Troy Melton?

Next up, the Tigers will travel to clash with the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series at Truist Park, beginning Tuesday (7:15 p.m., Detroit SportsNet/TBS). The probable pitchers for the series: right-hander Casey Mize (Tuesday), followed by left-handers Tarik Skubal (Wednesday) and Framber Valdez (Thursday).

In Sunday’s game, the Tigers’ four-run seventh inning changed everything.

A fielding error allowed Gleyber Torres – the leadoff hitter – to reach safely, setting up the big inning. Manager A.J. Hinch called for Hao-Yu Lee to pinch-hit for Colt Keith, securing the matchup advantage against left-handed reliever Sam Moll.

The decision paid off.

Lee has a track record of crushing left-handers in the minor leagues, and in this situation, he delivered his first home run in the big leagues. He pushed an up-and-away 90.7 mph fastball the opposite way for a two-run home run, hitting it 402 feet to right-center field with a 105.8 mph exit velocity.

The two-run homer gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead.

ROSTER MOVE: Brenan Hanifee joins Tigers as Connor Seabold lands on injured list

Spencer Torkelson kept the offense firing for a 5-3 lead with a solo home run off right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson, who replaced Moll to get the matchup advantage with Torkelson.

But Torkelson won the battle.

He attacked a middle-up 94.9 mph fastball and pulled it 421 feet to left-center field with a 107.3 mph exit velocity.

It was Torkelson’s fifth game in a row with a home run.

That tied a franchise record, joining Marcus Thames (2008), Willie Horton (1969), Vic Wertz (1950), Hank Greenberg (1940) and Rudy York (1937).

Celebrate 125 seasons of Tigers magic!

Torkelson’s five homers have all come on fastballs – three sinkers and two four-seamers –located on the inner half of the plate.

His swing is on time.

And he keeps doing damage.

The Tigers weren’t done scoring.

A triple from Kerry Carpenter and a sacrifice fly from Matt Vierling extended the Tigers’ lead to 6-3 in the seventh, then a walk from Kevin McGonigle and a two-run home run from Gleyber Torres extended the margin to 8-3 in the eighth inning.

Torres hit an elevated 94.6 mph fastball from right-handed reliever Jose Franco for his second homer in 27 games.

It was another opposite-field home run.

To get to the finish line, the Tigers turned to four relievers out of the bullpen for the final four innings: left-hander Brant Hurter in the sixth, right-hander Will Vest in the seventh, right-hander Kyle Finnegan in the eighth and right-hander Brenan Hanifee in the ninth.

The Tigers recalled Hanifee from Triple-A Toledo before Sunday’s game, replacing right-handed reliever Connor Seabold (placed on the 15-day injured list with left ankle inflammation).

Hanifee worked around a one-out single to end the game.

Striking early

The Tigers struck first for a 2-0 lead in the first inning, facing right-hander Rhett Lowder.

It began with a one-out single from Torres.

With two outs, three consecutive baserunners reached safely with Riley Greene’s single and Torkelson’s walk to load the bases, followed by a two-run double from Carpenter off Lowder’s changeup at the bottom of the strike zone.

After Carpenter’s double, Vierling lined out to end the first inning, stranding two runners in scoring position. In the second inning, Colt Keith grounded out to strand two runners after back-to-back singles from McGonigle and Torres with two outs.

From there, Lowder settled in against the Tigers.

Lowder allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across five innings, throwing 94 pitches. The 24-year-old has a 3.18 ERA through six starts.

The Reds responded to the Tigers with one run apiece in the second, fourth and fifth innings, facing right-hander Keider Montero.

In the second, Nathaniel Lowe battled for eight pitches before hitting Montero’s hanging curveball in a full count for a solo home run to right-center field. His fourth homer of the series (and his fourth of the season) cut the Reds’ deficit to 2-1.

In the fourth, JJ Bleday stepped to the plate with two outs and worked a full count before hitting Montero’s elevated fastball for a solo home run to center field. His first homer of the season tied the game, 2-2.

In the fifth, Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a triple to right field off Montero’s first-pitch sinker, then scored on Matt McLain’s double off Montero’s two-strike slider at the bottom of the zone. Those swings put the Reds ahead, 3-2.

Montero allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across five innings, throwing 86 pitches. All five hits were extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs from left-handed hitters.

The 25-year-old owns a 4.00 ERA through five starts.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.