CINCINNATI -- For the second straight game, Reds pitching allowed 11 runs. Friday night, those 11 runs came from the Detroit Tigers, who beat the Reds 11-5 in the first of a three-game series. It was a close game through 5 1/2 innings, but the Tigers scored eight runs in their final three innings at the plate to break the game open.

The Reds hadn’t won the Ohio Cup outright since 2014, when Francona was in his second season managing Cleveland. The Reds won five of their six meetings against the Guardians, falling 11-2 in Wednesday’s series finale.

Terry Francona returned to Cleveland for the first time since being named Cincinnati’s manager and the Reds opened a three-game series against the Guardians on Monday.

BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds seek to extend a four-game win streak with a victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland has gone 18-14 in home games and 34-31 overall. The Guardians are 23-3 in games when they out-hit their opponents.

Terry Francona made a victorious return to Cleveland, and MLB took notice. See the league’s message after the Cincinnati Reds clinched the Ohio Cup.