CLEVELAND (AP) — Steve Delabar had a nightmarish performance Tuesday night.

Delabar issued four straight bases-loaded walks after relieving starter Alfredo Simon in the fifth inning, the low point in Cincinnati’s 13-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Delabar walked five of the six batters he faced, threw 36 pitches and was charged with two runs in one-third of an inning.

Following the Reds’ second straight lopsided defeat against the Indians, the right-hander didn’t dodge any responsibility for his performance.

“Really can’t explain what happened,” he said. “Five walks. It’s unexplainable and unacceptable. I got a text from my wife and I was like, ‘That had to be a dream.’ It didn’t even seem like it happened. Loss for words.”

With Cincinnati trailing 8-0, Delabar relieved with runners at the corners and one out in the fifth, walked Jason Kipnis, then struck out Francisco Lindor. He then walked Mike Napoli, Jose Ramirez, Yan Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall in succession.

Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price had a couple of awful nights. The Reds lost 15-6 in Monday’s opener and Tuesday’s results were even more difficult.

“We’re in a bad cycle of bad starts and an overtaxed bullpen,” Price said. “We’ve got to perform a lot better than we have. I can tell you that.”

Simon (1-4) allowed a career-high 10 runs and 14 hits — one shy of his most — in 4 1/3 innings.

“I tried to throw the ball down as much as I can,” he said. “It’s not happening right now. It’s frustrating for me.”

Adam Duvall’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly drove in Cincinnati’s run. The Reds led 4-0 in the third inning Monday before being outscored 28-3 the rest of the two-game series.

The teams play again in Cincinnati on Wednesday and Thursday.

“It’s kind of rare so you take it and enjoy it,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We’ll move on quickly because we have to play them again tomorrow.”

Danny Salazar (4-2) gave up one run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings, struck out eight and walked one. He retired 16 straight batters after Jay Bruce’s one-out single in the second.

Rajai Davis had three hits, drove in three runs and scored four times for Cleveland. The Indians opened a four-run lead in the second inning, then extended it to 7-0 in the third and 12-0 in the fifth.

SIMPLE REASON

Price knows the Reds must get more innings from their starting pitchers to take some of the heat off his bullpen.

“It’s kind of a cycle of trying to stay competitive and get your starters out if they don’t have it, but not kill your bullpen in the process, or leave a starter out there where he’s out there getting beat up so you can save your bullpen,” he said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: LHP Anthony DeSclafani (pulled left oblique) threw another bullpen session Tuesday and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Cincinnati. He’s been on the 15-day disabled list all season.

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (sore right shoulder) had an anti-inflammatory injection in a follow-up examination with Dr. Craig Morgan in Wilmington, Delaware. No timetable has been established for when Brantley will return. He was placed on the 15-day DL for the second time this season Friday.

UP NEXT

Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-2), who starts Wednesday, hasn’t won since April 16. The bullpen has blown three leads after he’s been removed from games.

Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger will be added to the roster Wednesday and is to make his first major league start.