SARASOTA, Fla., March 13 (UPI) -- Catchers Mitch Meluskey and Brandon Inge homered and drove in two runs apiece and Steve Sparks allowed a hit over five scoreless innings Wednesday to carry the Detroit Tigers past the Cincinnati Reds, 9-1.
Ryan Jackson also homered and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who had 12 hits. Craig Paquette and Craig Monroe also homered for Detroit, which scored five times in the sixth and four times in the fourth.
Sparks walked just one batter before giving way to Bill Simas. But Simas was forced to leave after two batters due to injury.
Cincinnati starter Chris Reitsma allowed five hits over five scoreless innings but Ricardo Aramboles was tagged for five runs in the sixth.
Ken Griffey Jr. doubled and drove in the Reds lone run.
