CINCINNATI – The Detroit Tigers are in a rain delay.

The Tigers and Cincinnati Reds entered a rain delay ahead of the seventh inning Friday, April 24, in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park. The game started 12 minutes late, at 6:52 p.m.

The grounds crew rolled the tarp onto the field at 9:05 p.m.

When the game entered a delay, the Tigers controlled a 5-3 lead with Gleyber Torres ready to step to the plate in the top of the seventh. Right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan surrendered a solo home run to Nathaniel Lowe as steady rain began in the bottom of the sixth.

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In Friday's game, left-hander Framber Valdez allowed two runs on four hits and five walks with four strikeouts across 4⅓ innings. He struggled to throw strikes, but the offense created a cushion for him by scoring five runs in the first four innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Tigers wasted bases loaded and no outs when Javier Báez grounded into a force out and pinch-hitter Kerry Carpenter lined into an unassisted double play.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers weather, rain delay vs Reds in Cincinnati