Cincinnati Reds swept by Cleveland Indians

FRIDAY’S GAME

Mariners at Reds, 7:10 p.m., FS Ohio, 700, 1410

The 2016 Hubba Bubba Gum & Cincinnati Reds Bubble Blowing Championship trophy sat in the Great American Ball Park press box on Thursday. It’s part of a promotional campaign for the chewing gum company.

The Reds had no shot at winning the Ohio Cup, having lost the three previous nights to the Cleveland Indians, but they’re been good at blowing bubbles — third baseman Eugenio Suarez is a master at creating bubbles the size of his head — and they’ve been consistent at blowing games. A bullpen on track to be one of the worst in baseball history can make a lead or even a tie game disappear in less time than it takes to pop a bubble.

That same Reds bullpen faced an impossible task in the series finale. Starter Tim Adleman left the game with one out in the fourth with a strained oblique muscle, meaning the Reds would have to rely on their relievers for 5 2/3 innings. The result was a 7-2 loss and series sweep at the hands of their neighbors from the north.

“We talk about the same story every day here,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “We have to pitch better if we’re going to be able to stay away from losing streaks and keep our head above water.”

The Indians became the first team to sweep the season series since the Reds and Indians started meeting in interleague play in 1997. The Indians outscored the Reds 43-16 in the four games

Adleman, who has the same injury that has kept starter Anthony DeSclafani on the disabled list all season, left the game three batters after giving up a two-run home run to Carlos Santana. He will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the strain.

“I was trying to help the team win, and to come out in the fourth inning puts the team in a tough spot,” Adleman said. “It’s something you can’t control. It’s frustrating. I felt some kind of twinge. I thought it was a muscle spasm or a cramp.”

After Adleman exited, Caleb Cotham allowed four runs in the fifth. His ERA stands at 7.36. Keyvius Sampson allowed one run in three innings. His ERA is 7.71.

The Reds tied the game at 2-2 on a two-run home run by Joey Votto in the fourth. That was all the offense could muster against Indians starter Josh Tomlin, who allowed two earned runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Notes: Zack Cozart had two hits, raising his batting average to .328. … At 15-26, the Reds have their worst record through 41 games since they were also 15-26 in 2005. … Rajai Davis, who was 9-for-16 in the series with nine RBIs, was named the Ohio Cup's Most Outstanding Player.