CINCINNATI — The Detroit Tigers finally found their late-game spark Sunday, turning what looked like another frustrating road sweep into a statement comeback.
Rookie Hao-Yu Lee delivered the decisive blow, launching his first Major League home run as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, igniting a four-run rally that carried Detroit to an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
The win snapped the Tigers’ skid on the road and prevented what would have been their third series sweep away from home this season.
Detroit manager A. J. Hinch made the pivotal call in the seventh, sending Lee to the plate to face left-hander Sam Moll. Lee didn’t miss — crushing a two-run homer that flipped a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead and completely shifted momentum.
Two batters later, Spencer Torkelson continued his torrid stretch, blasting his fifth home run in as many games. The shot not only padded Detroit’s lead but also etched Torkelson’s name alongside franchise legends, tying a Tigers record for consecutive games with a home run — a list that includes Rudy York, Hank Greenberg, Vic Wertz, Willie Horton and Marcus Thames.
The Tigers weren’t done.
In the eighth inning, Gleyber Torres put the game out of reach with a two-run homer, capping a relentless offensive surge that turned a tight contest into a comfortable win.
Detroit jumped out early when Kerry Carpenter ripped a bases-loaded double in the first inning to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. But the Reds responded steadily.
Nathaniel Lowe got Cincinnati on the board with a solo homer in the second, continuing his hot stretch at the plate. In the fourth, JJ Bleday — making his Reds debut — tied the game with a 403-foot blast to center. The Reds then took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Ke'Bryan Hayes tripled and scored on a single by Matt McLain.
For much of the afternoon, Cincinnati starter Rhett Lowder kept Detroit in check, allowing just two runs over five innings while striking out seven. But the bullpen couldn’t hold the line once Detroit’s bats came alive late.
On the mound for Detroit, Keider Montero battled through five innings, allowing three runs while striking out five. The turning point came out of the bullpen, where Brant Hurter delivered a scoreless sixth inning to earn the win and set the stage for the offense.
The victory offers a much-needed boost for a Tigers club that has struggled to replicate last season’s success away from home. After being swept in both Arizona and Minnesota earlier this year, Detroit was staring at another setback before Lee and Torkelson flipped the script.
Up Next
The Tigers head to Atlanta, where Casey Mize is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Braves. The Reds will remain home to face the Rockies, with Chase Burns set to take the mound.
For Detroit, Sunday’s comeback may prove more than just a single win — it could be the spark they’ve been searching for on the road.
Torkelson's 5th straight homer in 5 straight games.
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