John bracket: 1961 Reds defeat 2017 Tigers in six games

Game 1: Reds 9, Tigers7
WP: Maloney (1-0)
LP: A Wilson (0-1)
Save: Brosnan (1)
HR: Kasko (1), Chacon (1)

Game 2: Reds 4, Tigers 3
WP: Brosnan (1-0)
LP: A Wilson (0-2)
JR: F Robinson (1)

Game 3: Tigers 9, Reds 6
WP: Boyd (1-0)
LP: Purkey (0-1)
HR: Presley (1), Cabrera (1). V Martinez (1)

Game 4: Reds 5, Tigers 2
WP: Hunt (1-0)
LP: Sanchez (0-1)
Save: Maloney (1)
HR: F. Robinson (2), Coleman (1)

Game 5: Tigers 3, Reds 2 (10 innings)
WP: J Wilson (1)
LP: Purkey (2)
HR: JD Martinez (1), Lynch (1)

Game 6: Reds 3, Tigers 1
WP: O'Toole (1-0)
LP: Zimmermann (0-1)
Save: Brosnan (2)

Jim Brosnan and Jim Maloney combined for nine innings of shutout relief work for Cincinnati, gathering two wins and three saves.

They both got decisions in the Crosley Field opener. Detroit rattled Cincy starter Joey Jay for six runs in five innings and added a seventh run in the sixth off Howie Nunn, but Eddie Kasko's three-run homer off Shane Greene capped a five-run eighth. Maloney loaded the bases in the top of the eights with one out but got Alex Avila to ground into a double play to escape the jam. and Brosnan worked the ninth to nail it down.

The Reds needed another bottom-of-the-eighth homer to pull out Game Two. This time it was Frank Robinson connecting off Alex Wilson for a two-run homer. Brosnan worked two innings in relief for the win. Gordy Coleman had a pair of RBI singles for Cincinnati.

The series shifted to 2017 and Comerica Park for Game Three. The Tigers drove Bob Purkey from the mound with five runs and two homers (Victor Martinez and Alex Presley) in the first inning, and Matt Boyd made the early runs stand up. The Reds made the final score superficially close with three runs in the ninth off Francisco Rodriguez. Presley had four RBIs for the Tigers and Miguel Cabrera scored three runs.

Robinson hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Game Four to vault the Reds into an early lead. Ken Hunt allowed two runs in six innings; after he allowed the first two men to reach in the seventh. Maloney relieved and retired nine of the 10 men he faced, with the only blemish being an error by second baseman Don Blasengame. Maloney fanned five in his three innings of work and got the save.

J.D. Martinez's walk-off homer off Purkey in the bottom of the 10th in Game Five staved off elimination.  Jay allowed two runs in nine innings for the no-decision, and he was essentially match by Michael Fulmer (two runs in eight innings), with reliever Justin Wilson striking out five of his six hitters for the win.

The Reds returned to 1961 and Crosley to wrap up the series. Jim O'Toole allowed one run in seven innings, allowing six hits, and Brosnan allowed one hit in two innings of relief. Blasengame scored two runs for Cincinnati.

Player of the series: Vada Pinson

Projected rotation: Jay-Purkey-O'Toole-Hunt-(Jay)-(Purkey)-(O'Toole)