Pinch-hitter Wenceel Pérez hit a two-run home run and Mark Canha doubled to bring in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as the Detroit Tigers rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Saturday, securing their first series win in two weeks.
The Tigers also won the opening game on Friday night with a score of 5-4, marking their first series victory since taking two out of three games against the Chicago White Sox from June 21-23.
“What an enjoyable win,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch remarked. “We often talk about winning series, and this one feels particularly good after a while. I’m very proud of these guys, and we’ll see where it leads us.”
Cincinnati held a comfortable 2-0 lead with Hunter Greene on the mound, who pitched seven scoreless innings and kept the Tigers from advancing beyond first base.
However, the game turned in the eighth inning against Reds reliever Fernando Cruz (3-6). Parker Meadows doubled and Pérez followed with his game-tying home run.
“That got me fired up,” Pérez commented. “I was just looking for a pitch in the middle and I got it. When Parker hit that double, I was ready for the opportunity. We never gave up, and we capitalized on our chances.”
The Tigers added two more runs in the inning with a groundout and a double by Carson Kelly.
Greene’s strong performance on the mound for Cincinnati went unrewarded, as he allowed only three hits, struck out seven, and walked two batters.
Due to Jack Flaherty’s back injury, the Tigers relied on their bullpen for the game. Shelby Miller (5-6) pitched the eighth inning and earned the win.
In the ninth inning, Spencer Steer hit a solo home run for the Reds, and Noelvi Marte’s two-out single off Jason Foley brought the tying run to the plate. However, Andrew Chafin entered the game and struck out pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal to secure his first save of the season.
