Fulmer’s hot start fizzles in the sixth
Back-to-back jacks power Reds to win
Scooter Gennett hit a tying two-run homer and Eugenio Suarez connected on the next pitch — a hit originally ruled a double, but changed to a homer on review — as the Cincinnati Reds rallied to a 5-3 victory Wednesday for a two-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.
The Reds moved ahead in the alltime series 13-11 with two games left at Comerica Park starting July 31.
Tyler Mahle (6-6) overcame a pair of solo homers to remain unbeaten in four June starts. The rookie has allowed a total of four earned runs while going 3-0 on the month. He struck out eight in six innings.
Raisel Iglesias gave up a hit in the ninth while earning his 11th save in 13 chances.
The Reds managed only a pair of singles through the first five innings before getting to Michael Fulmer (3-6). Gennett connected with two outs for his 13th homer, tying it 2-2. Suarez hit Fulmer’s next pitch to left field with the ball landing on the top of the wall and bouncing back into play.
The Reds sounded their home run siren and shot off fireworks, but the umpires ruled the ball was in play and stopped Suarez at second base. After a review of 72 seconds, the hit was ruled a homer — replays indicated the ball skipped off the top of the wall and deflected off a railing behind it.
Adam Duvall added a homer in the eighth.
Jeimer Candelario and Niko Goodrum had solo shots off Mahle as Detroit’s offence was limited for a second straight game. The Tigers had brought a season-high five-game winning streak into the interleague series. Meanwhile, right-handed reliever Drew VerHagen was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a broken nose suffered Tuesday night when he was hit by a thrown ball while covering first base. Righthanded reliever Johnny Barbato was called up from triple-A Toledo. He gave up Duvall’s homer in the eighth.
After a day off, the Tigers start a weekend series Friday in Cleveland, where they ’ve lost 20 of their last 26 games, including their last seven. Mike Fiers (5-3) is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts at Progressive Field.