Lee sparks big inning as Detroit Tigers salvage series finale vs. Reds

Cincinnati – The Tigers were a credible road team last year, going 41-40. So far this season, not so much.

They had already been swept out of Arizona (three games) and Minnesota (four games) this season. And they were nine outs away from getting broomed out of Cincinnati, as well.

Until AJ Hinch played one of his lefty-slayer cards off the bench and altered the narrative.

Down 3-2 in the top of the seventh, he sent up rookie Hao-Yu Lee to pinch-hit against lefty reliever Sam Moll with a runner on and no outs.

Lee unloaded on a four-seam fastball, driving it 402 feet into the right-centerfield stands. His first big-league homer couldn’t have come at a better time because it propelled the Tigers to an 8-3 victory over the Reds in the series finale at Great American Ball Park.

Lee’s homer triggered a four-run inning.

The Tigers capitalized on another pitching decision by Reds’ manager Terry Francona. He brought in right-hander Pierce Johnson to face righty-swinging Spencer Torkelson, who had already doubled in the previous inning.

The Tigers' Kerry Carpenter hits a two-run double in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Great American Ball Park.

Torkelson detonated an elevated, 95-mph four-seamer. The ball left his bat at 107-mph and flew 421 feet into the left field seats.

Torkelson has homered in five straight games, tying the Tigers’ franchise record, last achieved by Marcus Thames in 2008. Hank Greenberg, Willie Horton, Rudy York and Vic Wertz are the only others to homer in five straight games.