Reds Rally To Celebrate Elly De la Cruz Debut

 

The Los Angeles Dodgers led the Reds by five runs but the young Reds battled back to out slugged the home team, walked away with a 9-8 win on a bases loaded single by Matt McLain.

"If I didn't do it he was going to do it or Jon was going to do it behind me. It is really exciting. It is fun looking in the future but we're here now and we're here to win. It's a good feeling," McLain said.

The Reds broke out it's prized prospect in Elly De la Cruz. The 21-year old walked in his first at bat and scored. He doubled for his first Major League hit off Tony Gonsolin, who came into the game with a 1.77 ERA and a 3-1 record.

"He (De la Cruz) absolutely met the moment," David Bell said. "He knew he was the big focus today but you would have never known it being around him. He was relaxed but played with passion and intensity. They pitched him tough. He had good at bats all night."

Luke Weaver started for the Reds and had a tough first inning. Mookie Betts hit a one hopper over the third base bag that De la Cruz got a glove on but couldn't hold it. Betts got credit for an infield hit. Freddie Freeman walked. Will Smith struck out but Max Muncy doubled to drive in the Dodgers first run. J.D. Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to right. David Peralta singled to score Muncy.

The Reds got them all back off Gonsolin.

"They are just playing so hard," Bell said. "They want it so bad for each other. The key was way back in the first inning bouncing back after we were down three runs. That showed a lot right there. That kept us in the game. Even when we got down 8-3 it gave us the confidence to keep playing and see what happens."

Jake Fraley and McLain singled. Jonathan India flied out. De la Cruz walked in his first plate appearance. Spencer Steer earned an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Tyler Stephenson tied the game with a long single.

De la Cruz doubled off Gonsolin one out into the third inning. Steer walked but Stephenson struck out and Kevin Newman lined out to center.

"It was very exciting," De la Cruz said. "I was very excited about that first hit. I felt really good at the plate. It is really special to hear the fans chanting your name. Of course I heard the crowd."

The favorite part of his day?

"The walk off," De la Cruz said.

Weaver retired seven batters in a row before Martinez hit his 15th home run to lead off the fourth. Jason Heyward and Miguel Rojas singled. Betts walked to load the bases. David Bell brought in left hander Alex Young to face Freeman. Young got ahead 0-2 but Freeman unloaded his 11th home run. It was his fifth career grand slam and second of the season.

Complicating the uphill climb was the dominance that the Dodgers held over the Reds the last five seasons. Los Angeles won all seven game against the Reds last season and nine straight, dating back to September 2021. These young Reds didn't know that nor did they care.

"That's who we are. We have to play nine innings if we want to win and that's what we're going to do," McLain said.

India echoed the sentiment.

"This win today is who we are," India said. "We have to keep it going. We have to stay present tomorrow and win every inning. I told people on deck. He's going to win the game. The crowd was amazing. Elly is making his debut and brought the whole crowd with him and he had a great night at the plate."

Bell was ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres for arguing a pitch call. It was his fourth ejection of the year and 24th in his career.

India singled and De la Cruz walked for the second time. India scored on Muncy's throwing error at third on a ground ball by Stephenson.

Young was also ejected by Torres.

The Reds got another run in the sixth against Yency Almonte. Stuart Fairchild walked but Luke Maile hit into a double play. Fraley and McLain singled. Fraley took third and drew a throw that got away from Muncy. India hit a slow roller to third for an RBI infield hit. De la Cruz came to the plate to chants of his name but he grounded out to Miguel Vargas at second.

The Reds greeted Brusdar Graterol with singles by Steer and Stephenson. Newman hit into a 3-6-1 double play. Fairchild beat out a ground ball into the hole at shortstop to get the Reds within two runs. Will Benson pinch hit for Maile and lined a single off the wall in right. 

Fernando Cruz held the Dodgers for 1 2/3 innings. Ian Gibaut pitched a scoreless eighth. Eduardo Salazar pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first big league win.

The Reds started a rally in the bottom of the ninth against Caleb Ferguson. Steer walked on a 3-2 pitch checked swing. Stephenson rolled his third hit of the game into right field putting runners at the corner with no outs. TJ Hopkins ran for Stephenson. Newman fouled out for the first out. Fairchild worked the count to 3-2. He walked to load the bases. Curt Casali came to bat and worked a 3-2 count. He walked to force in the seventh run and bring Fraley at the top of the order. The Reds tied the game when Fraley was hit by a pitch. Shelby Miller was summoned by Dodger manager Dave Roberts. McLain hit an 0-1 pitch over Jason Hayward's head in center for the walk off win.

"The infield is in, one out. I'm looking for something over the middle of the plate to get in in the air. When I hit it I thought that is enough to score him," McLain said.