Bryce Harper Hits Home Run To Back Zack Wheeler To Beat Reds

  

Bryce Harper homered in his return to the lineup following the birth of his third child, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 Thursday for their second shutout win in splitting a four-game series. The Reds won the season series 4-3.

Wheeler escaped a bases loaded jam in the third on a running catch by Nick Castellanos of Spencer Steer's bid for an extra base hit.

“I was throwing a lot of balls and got deep in the counts,” Wheeler said. “Any time someone is on third with no out, it's good to get out of the inning without them scoring. I've given up two hits my last two outings but a bunch of walks. The results are good. I just got to get that cleaned up.”

Philadelphia has won eight of 10 and leads the major leagues with five shutouts, one more than the Phillies total in all of last season.

“I heard it was the second time that Bryce has homered coming off the paternity list. It's wild isn't it; daddy strength. It is good to have back. He's a good presence and gives the people around him a lot of confidence.”

Harper returned from paternity leave for the birth of a daughter and hit a two-run homer that capped a four-run third inning against Nick Martinez (0-1). Harper has four home runs in four games against the Reds this season, hitting three on April 2.

Bryson Stott hit an RBI triple and scored on Kyle Schwarber's sacrifice fly, then added an RBI single in the sixth. Trea Turner had three hits, raising his average to .336.>Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman finished the three-hitter.

Martinez (0-1) gave up five runs and 11 hits in six innings. He is starting because Frankie Montas is on the 15-day injured list with a bruised right forearm after being struck Saturday by a comebacker off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward.

Bryce Harper, who returned to the lineup after the birth of a daughter, capped a four-run  third inning with his fifth home run of the season. The two-run homer was the fourth against  the Reds in his last two games.

Trea Turner had three hits and drove in a run. Bryson start hit a triple an drove in two.

Zach Wheeler turned in his second straight scoreless outing with six innings. He allowed one hit and four walks, striking out eight. Wheeler pitched a season-high 7 1/3 in his last outing against the White Sox.

Nick Martinez, filling in for Frankie Montas, who will miss two starts with a bruised forearm, was the victim. The Phillies had four extra base hits in the inning.

“It was a combination of bad luck and missed location to the wrong guys,” Martinez said. “I liked the pitch call to Harper but I missed the locaton. The same with Turner when e hit the double.”

Harper has five homers on the season. Four have been against the Reds in the last two games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Taijuan Walker, on the injured list since spring training with right shoulder soreness, is expected to make his first start of the season for the Phillies at San Diego on Sunday.

Reds: Jonathan India returned and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts as a DH after missing three games with an undisclosed illness. ... OF Jake Fraley missed his fourth straight start due to illness.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (3-1, 3.16) will oppose RHP Joe Musgrove (3-2, .5.74) in San Diego on Friday.

Reds: RHP Graham Ashcraft (3-1, .5.24) will start Friday at Texas against RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 3.30).

The Reds Victimize Phillies Bullpen Take a 2-1 Lead In The Series.

 

The Reds couldn't do much with the Philadelphia Phillies starter Spencer Turnbull but scored five runs against the bullpen to take a 7-4 win.

Elly De La Cruz had three hits and three stolen bases. He scored his 23rd run of the season.

The Phillies scored first, not unusual for them. They have scored 25 runs in the first inning.

Nick Lodolo hit Trea Turner with a pitch. Turner stole second. It was the 41st steal since he was last caught on September 6, 2022. Alec Bohm extended his hitting streak to eight games with an RBI single.

Bohm delivered again in the third. Kyle Schwarber who walked scored from first base. 

Will Benson got one of the runs back with his third home run on the third inning. Spencer Turnbull, the Phillies starter, has not allowed an earned run in three of his four starts coming into the game. The Reds scored an unearned run off Turnbull in Philadelphia on April 4.

The stolen base streak ended when Tyler Stephenson caught Turner as the Phillies tried a double steal to end the fifth inning.

"It was a designed play but he was supposed to wait until the ball was out of the catchers hand. He left a little bit early.  It was a good arm fake," Phillie manager Rob Thompson said.

Lodolo was nicked for a run in the sixth. Whit Merrifield opened the inning with a single. Edmundo Sosa singled him to third. David Bell brought Lucas Sims into the game. Sims struck out Christian Pache but Johan Rojas singled to score Merrifield with the third run. Garret Stubbs grounded out as the runners advanced. Justin Wilson ended the inning getting Schwarber on an infield pop up.

The Reds tied the game in the bottom of the sixth against Phillies reliever. Seranthony Dominguez. Christian Encarnation-Strand walked. He reached third on a ground rule double by Tyler Stephenson. Santiago Espinal delivered them with a two-out single to right. 

"We were going to send Thomson back out there but they made two pitching changes. It took about 25 minutes. If he was around 50 pitches we would have sent him back out there but when it got into the 90 range we made the move."

Dominguez has pitched well for the Phillies.

"He has been all over the place," Thompson said of Dominguez. He has had some good and some bd. Tonight he just couldn't find the plate. I still trust him because he has great stuff."

Espinal stole second as Stuart Fairchild walked. Dominguez left the game and Matt Strahm came into face Benson for a lefty-lefty match up. Benson singled to put the Reds in the lead. De La Cruz doubled home another run also on a ground rule double that prevented Benson, who was running on the pitch from scoring. 

Emilio Pagan came on to hold the Reds 5-3 lead in the seventh. It didn't happen. Turner and Bohm singled to put runners on first and third. It was Bohm's third hit of the game. Nick Castellanos hit a hard one hopper to Jeimer Candelario at third base. He bobbled the ball and could only get a force on Bohm. I could have been a double play. Merrifield doubled off the glove of Benson in right, who tried to make a diving catch. 

Bohm had four hits and a walk in five plate appearances.

Bell summoned Fernando Cruz. As he did on Tuesday night. Cruz got the last two outs to strand two runners in scoring position. Sosa struck out swinging and pinch hitter Brandon Marsh flied out deep to right.

The Reds got the run back. Nick Martini broke his 0-for-19 hitless streak with an infield hit. He was called out but Bohm came off the bag at first and the Reds won the appeal. Stephenson singled pinch runner Bubba Thompson to third. Candelario walked to load the bases. Espinal hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Thompson. 

Brent Suter pitched a scoreless eighth. He now has a string of 13 1/3 scoreless innings.

De La Cruz singled off Jose Alvarado. He stole second and third from where he scored on a sacrifice fly by Steer.

Alexis Diaz came into to save his fifth save in six attempts. 

Red Snap Phillies Winning Streak Christian Encarnacion-Strand Provides The Offense

  

Christian Encarnacion-Strand had three hits and Elly De La Cruz delivered his seventh home run to send the Reds to a 8-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

CES came into the game hitting .190 but he drove in the Reds first two runs.

"It is a long season," Encarnacion-Strand said. "You just keep your approach and keep working. I try to just take every at bat, not the same but the same approach at least. I try to get my best swing off."

Clutch pitching Fernando Cruz preserved the lead, getting the Phillies two hottest hitters out with the bases loaded.

The Phillies opened the scoring against Andrew Abbott in the first inning. With two outs J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm hit back-to-back doubles.

The Reds fought back with an unearned run against Christopher Sanchez. Stuart Fairchild reached base on Edmundo Sosa's error at third base. Spencer Steer forced Fairchild at second. One out later Jeimer Candelario drew a walk. Encarnacion-Strand doubled down the right field line to tie the game. 

The Reds parlayed three singles and a couple of walks combined with some throwing errors to put four runs on the scoreboard in the third.

Tyler Stephenson walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Encarnacion-Strand picked up his second hit and RBI with a single through the shortstop hole. Christian Pache's throw got past Realmuto and CES went to third. De La Cruz walked and stole second. Both scored when Nick Martini had an infield hit that scored CES and De La Cruz when Whit Merrifield's throw went out of play. Santiago Espinal's second hit of the game delivered Martini to put the Reds in charge, 5-1.

The home run added to the lead but the larger impact was a double play De La Cruz started in the sixth inning. With two on and one out, he got to a ball in the hole and made a quick throw to second that Espinal turned it to end the inning. The next inning, with the leadoff man on. De La Cruz tracked down a fly ball down the line in medium left field to retire Johan Rojas.

"It is amazing what Elly did when you stop and think about it," Bell said. "He went a long way for it. The speed obviously, but it was the desire to make the play. He wants to do everything he can to get his hands on the ball. That was a great play but maybe a more impressive play was the double play ball. That he charged and Espy did a nice job of turning it. Defense is so important."

Abbott walked the bottom three batters in the fifth to stare the inning. He struck out Kyle Schwarber looking. David Bell brought in Cruz to face Trea Turner. Cruz struck out Turner. Realmuto lined out to center field and the Phillies came up empty. 

Abbott was cruising until the fifth and a win got away from him.

"Cruz has had an opportunity to get into the game and have a big impact," Bell said. "It was great pitching. He keeps getting better and better. It's fun to watch to make 10 pitches and have such an impact on the game."

Abbott finished with 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits but he walked four and struck out three. 

"I  think I started to nibble too much instead of just throwing the ball. With a good hitting lineup you can't be afraid to throw the ball over the plate. I just started trying to hit the corners," Abbott said.

CES opened the bottom of the fifth with his third hit. De La Cruz hit his seventh home run of the season to left center. The victim, Yunior Marte, came into the game with a 0.87 ERA.

Buck Farmer pitched two scoreless innings. Emilio Pagan held the Phillies for an inning.

Espinal hit a home run off Ricardo Pinto. It was his first of the season and his third hit of the game.

Ranger Suarez Shuts Down Reds Snap Reds Streak At Three Wins

 

  

Ranger Suarez stymied the Reds offense while his teammates chipped away to post a 7-0 win for the Philadelphia Phillies, opening the four-game series.

The Phillies won their seventh straight while snapping the Reds' three-game winning streak.Suarez came into the game with 18 straight scoreless innings, including a complete game shutout of Colorado in his last start. He extended his scoreless streak to 25 with seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk, while striking out five batters.

The Phillies built a lead inch by inch against Hunter Greene. They scored single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.

"Overall I thought I pitched well; did a better job of attacking the zone," Greene said. "I have to do a better job of getting the first guy out. I think that is what threw off those three or four innings."

Alec Bohm singled past the diving Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. Former Red Nick Castellanos dumped a flair into right field to send Bohm to third. Bryson Stott's fly to right allowed Bohm to score on a close play at home, beating the throw by Stuart Fairchild. Johan Rojas tripled to open the third inning. Middletown, Ohio native Kyle Schwarber hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the Phillie's second run."

The next inning, Bohm doubled and went to third base on a single by Castellanos. Stott forced Castellanos at second, allowing Bohm to score again.Greene walked Schwarber to open the fifth. He scored from first on a double into the left field corner by J.T. Realmuto.

Meanwhile, the Reds offense couldn't get untracked against Ranger Suarez. Fairchild opened the game with an infield hit. He was called out on batter interference as Spencer Steer struck out while Fairchild was running. Steer got in way of Realmuto's throw.

Suarez retired eight batters in a row before Steer walked. Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled to open the fifth but was forced at second. De La Cruz stole third with two outs but was stranded."Suarez has been great for them all year, going back to last year, obviously. He has good movement on his fastball and uses the whole plate," David Bell said. "He has several different pitches he can get you out with. We weren't able to get much going. We had a few good at bats mixed in there but give him a lot of credit."

Greene gave the Reds what they really needed by pitching seven innings to help save the bullpen which endured 8 2/3 innings on Sunday. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out six.

"Hunter established his fastball early in the game which I thought was a great sign. Over the course of the game, they hit a few balls hard off his fastball. That's going to happen. He had a good fastball. I really liked how he started the first inning, I think he threw all fastballs. I think there is a lot for him to build off his game," Bell said.

Casey Legumina was recalled from Louisville and made his first appearance for the Reds. Cody Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens hit a three-run home run in the ninth off Legumina.

Greg Soto relieved Suarez for the Phillies in the eighth inning. Former Reds' pitcher Jeff Hoffman finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Reds Bullpen Saves The Day To Sweep The Angels

 

  

The Reds' bullpen picked up after starting pitcher Frankie Montas left the game in the first inning and Cincinnati shut out the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Sunday to sweep the series. 

Montas was hit by a line drive by Taylor Ward and left the game with a bruised right forearm after 16 pitches. Brent Suter allowed four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Emilio Pagan (2-1) earned the win after allowing one hit in two innings.

“It's not the first time I've come into game in the first inning. It probably won't be my last. It's part of my job,” Suter said.

Montas tracked the ball down and threw Ward out at first before leaving with the trainer.

“I was going to make the play regardless. I told myself get him out,” Montas said. "I couldn't feel my hand, nothing. It swelled up right away.

The ball was clocked at 101 mph.

“I was trying to get out of the way. It didn't give me time,” he said.

The five Reds relievers pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed just six singles. The Reds infield turned in two double plays, including a stellar stop by Jeimer Candelario at third base.

“It was a day of just stepping up and helping each other out,” Reds manager David Bell said. “As soon as it happened to Frankie we said what do we do to get this done. We saw it as a challenge. It was an amazing job by the bullpen.”

Jose Soriano (0-3) did not allow a hit until there was one out in the sixth inning. Elly De La Cruz singled. Nick Martini reached on a error by Luis Rengifo. Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled, and Candelario hit a triple to put the Reds up 3-0.

"It shouldn’t present a challenge," Angels manager Ron Washington said. “We know Suter, and he came in and we didn’t do very much with him. And that, Cruz. We know exactly what he does. So it wasn’t no issue. We just didn’t supply anything offensively today. The game was moving along. Both sides were pitching very well. We know what Soriano was doing out there, and then we don’t handle the baseball. Next thing you know, they’ve got three runs.”

Soriano finished with three unearned runs on three hits in six innings, a career high, and struck out a career-high seven batters.

Alexis Diaz earned his fourth straight save in five tries.

Tyler Stephenson Slams Angels

  

Tyler Stephenson hit a grand slam home run in a five-run first inning to lead the defeat the Los Angeles Angels 7-5.

The Angels scored two runs in the first inning against Graham Ashcraft. Anthony Rendon hit a ground ball into the hole at shortstop and beat Elly De La Cruz’ off balance throw. Rendon pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Zach Neto. Mike Trout singled up the middle. One out later, Miguel Sano hit a fly to deep center but it was off Bubba Thompson’s glove for an RBI Brandon Drury grounded out to drive in the second run.

The Reds rallied with one out in the bottom of the first against Patrick Sandoval. Spencer Steer beat out a ground ball to Luis Rengifo. His throw was over the head of Nolan Schanuel. It hit off the camera rail behind first base and he threw Steer out going to second. The umpires ruled it went out of play and the Angels challenged the ruling which stood up under review. Stuart Fairchild doubled to score Steer. Jeimer Candelario walked. One out later De La Cruz walked. Stephenson hit a long fly to right that landed on the screen above the Angels bullpen for a grand slam. It was the first of his career and third home run of the season for Stephenson. It was his second of the series. 

Sandoval's night ended in the fifth. Fairchild singled to score Jonathan India who reached base on an infield hit. Steer walked to move India to second. Jose Suarez relieved Sandoval. De La Cruz walked for the third time with the bases loaded to make it a 7-2 game.

Sano's third hit was a two-run home run in the sixth inning. The blow to right followed a leadoff walk to Taylor Ward.

Nick Martinez relieved Ashcraft after he walked Drury. Renigfo's ground out scored Drury, who went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a fly out. He pitched three scoreless innings.

Alexis Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save in five chances.

  

Nick Lodolo Pitches Second Gem Tyler Stephenson Homers To Bring Angels To Earth

The battery of Nick Lodolo and Tyler Stephenson broke the wings of the Los Angeles Angels in a 7-1 win to open a three-game series.

Lodolo kept the top of the Angels batting order in check while Stephenson hit a deciding home run.

Lodolo grew up an Angels' fan and followed the career of Mike Trout.

"It was cool to be in the game with him," Lodolo said. "I asked for the lineup card because his name was on it. All my friends at home are blowing up my phone."

The speed of Elly De La Cruz put the Reds on the scoreboard against Tyler Anderson. De La Cruz, who had the only Reds' hit off the Seattle pitching staff on Wednesday, grounded a hard single up the middle with two outs in the second inning. He stole second easily with Jake Fraley at bat. He took off for third and beat a wild throw by catcher Logan O'Hoppe. De La Cruz trotted home with the first run of the game.

Nick Lodolo made his second start of the year for the Reds. He retired the first seven batters but Jo Adell broke his bat and beat out a slow roller to third base. Adell stole second. Anthony Rendon hit a ground ball to the shortstop hole and beat De La Cruz running throw. Spencer Steer wheeled and threw out Adell at home plate trying to score. 

"Steer is a good baseball player," David Bell said. "He anticipated the runner going home. It was the play of the game to that point. He has been playing in left field and made a great play by picking up the short hop and throwing home right away."

The Angels tied the score with two out in the fifth. Luis Rengifo singled and stole second. He scored on Adell's line single to left field. It was the first run allowed by Lodolo in his first 10 1/3 innings. 

Stephenson got the Reds' lead back with a long home run, his second of the season.

"It was a great swing," Bell said. "It looked like they were going inside. He was able to clear it out and got the big part of the bat to the ball. He finally got it to the right part of the ball park."

Lodolo pitched 6 1/3 innings. He left with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh. Brandon Drury singled but was forced at second by O'Hoppe. Rengifo doubled. David Bell brought in Fernando Cruz to face Adell. Cruz struck out Adell on a 3-2 pitch. Zach Neto struck out looking to end the threat.

"Cruz has good stuff," Bell said. "He did a really good job reading the hitter. He made a good pitch to a hitter who did a really good job of laying off the splitter."

Lodolo allowed one run on seven hits, two of them infield hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six. Lodolo will go into his third scheduled start on Wednesday against the Phillies with a 0.75 ERA.

Nick went through a lot to get back out there," Bell said. "He was missed. We just wanted to make sure he was over the injury. He just needs to pitch. Tonight he definitely set the tone."

The left-hander who spent most of the 2023 season out with a leg injury was pitch efficient.

"I didn't know how many pitches I was throwing but I knew I was jumping ahead of hitters," Lodolo said.

The Reds broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth against the Halos' bullpen.

Adam Cimber walked Jonathan India, who earlier broke a career-high 0-for-24 slump with a base hit. Steer singled. Stuart Fairchild bunted them along with a sacrifice bunt. Stephenson walked. Cimber hit Nick Martini to force the Reds' third run home. Steer scored on a wild pitch from Jose Cisnero. De La Cruz' sixth home run of the season brought home the last three runs.

Buck Farmer came into the game in the ninth to mop up.

Christian Yelich Hits His Fifth Home Run To Pace Brewers Win

 

  

The game between the Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers was delayed an hour and 50 minutes by a steady rain.

The start was soggy for Hunter Greene. He walked Jackson Chourio to open the game. One out later Christian Yelich lined his fifth home run of the season into the right field stands. The home run set the pace in Milwaukee's 7-2 win to take an advantage in the four-game series.

The Brewers added three more in the second. Greene hit Jake Bauers with a pitch to start the frame. Brice Turang laced a two-out single to left. Chourio singled on a ground ball through the shortstop hole to score Bauers. Spencer Steer's throw got a way from Luke Maile for a throwing error. William Contreras singled the opposite way to drive in two runs. 

The Brewers increased their lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning. Blake Perkins was hit by a pitch. He stole second and was safe due to obstruction by Santiago Espinal covering. Perkins was ruled safe by second base umpire, Brian O'Nora. It appeared to overslide the base but they umpires got together and ruled Espinal had his foot in front of the base. Baseball added a rule this season to prevent that.

"Yes we were (going to challenge)," Bell said. "We did challenge it. We were told there was obstruction which was called, I believe, by the first base umpire (Brennan Miller)."

Chourio's second RBI of the game was the result of a sacrifice fly.

"Hunter had a good fastball but his slider was a little inconsistent," David Bell said. "That's a big pitch for Hunter. He gave us six innings on what was not his best night."

Former Red left-hander, Wade Miley, who is returning from and aching shoulder went 3 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. With two outs he walked Christian Encarnacion-Strand and hit Jeimer Candelario with a pitch. Stuart Fairchild singled to score Encarnacion-Strand. 

Elly De La Cruz lined his third home run of the season to extend his on base streak to 17 games in a row dating back to September 26, 2023. He has a hit in 11 of the first 12 games of this season. The victim was Bryse Wilson, who relieved Miley in the fifth inning.

Wilson earned the win with three innings of three-hit, one-run relief.

Miley pitched four innings, allowing one run on one hit, two walks and one hit batter.

Perkins hit his first home run of the season off a Greene pitch in the sixth inning. 

Greene lasted six innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on six hits, including two home runs, two walks and two hit batters. Greene struck out nine but his downfall was putting three lead off batters on base in the first three innings by a walk and two hit batters.  The Brewers totaled six runs in those innings.

"This team (Brewers) is ready to hit out of the gates. I know that. I think those first two innings, being able to locate those pitches better. I know they are swinging if it's over the plate. They're swinging hard."

"There is a ton I can take away from the last four innings. That's a positive for me but it made it tough for the team," Greene added. 

Buck Farmer pitched a scoreless inning for the Reds. Brent Suter pitched two scoreless innings.

 David Bell

Hunter Greene

Brewers Even The Series On A Big Night By Blake Perkins

 

  

Blake Perkins had three hits. Christian Yelich drove in three runs to back the five-hit pitching performance by Joe Ross. The Milwaukee Brewers evened the four-game series with a 9-5 win.

Ross pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out seven.

Milwaukee scored first against Frankie Montas. Sal Frelick opened the third inning with a walk. Brice Turang hit a double down the first base line. Perkins singled to center to drive in two runs. Yelich singled home Perkins, who stole second. 

"To be honest if I could take anything away from tonight. It was the walk to start the third inning," Montas said "I got myself in trouble giving them a free pass. I have to give them credit. They were taking a lot of my split."

The Reds got a run back against Joe Ross in the fourth. Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled to left. He moved to second on a ground out and scored on Jake Fraley's singled to score the run. Elly De La Cruz hit a double down the first base line with Fraley stopping at third. Ross struck out Spencer Steer and Nick Martini to end the threat. 

De La Cruz threw away a potential double play ball by William Contreras after Perkins bunted for a base hit. Yelich doubled to drive them home.

Carson Spiers, who replaced Tejay Antone on the roster, relieved Montas to start the sixth.

Montas pitched five innings, allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. He struck out four.

"Frankie didn't have the best command but you have to give the Brewers credit. They made him throw strikes," David Bell said. "They don't chase a lot. He kept us in the game though. He could have easily got out of there only three runs."

Perkins two-out single in the sixth scored Frelick with the sixth Brewers run. It was Perkins third hit of the game.

Spiers walked Contreas to open the seventh. Willy Adames doubled to the left center. Will Benson nearly caught the line drive against the fence but was shaken up as the ball popped out of his glove. Jake Bauers doubled. Rhys Hoskins walked. Frelick's second single of the game scored Bauers. 

Spiers saved the Reds bullpen with four innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, three walks and a strikeout. 

"Carson is a guy we think a lot of. He did his job for sure and he finished strong," Bell said.

De La Cruz reached base on a throwing error by Adames. Steer singled. They scored on Tyler Stephenson's double.

Fraley and Steer doubled after Encarnacion-Strand's second hit of the game off Elvis Peguero in the eighth to score two runs and inch closer. 

Elly De La Cruz' Moon Shot Helped The Reds Eclipse The Brewers

  

Five hours after the total eclipse of the sun darkened the sky above Great American Ball Park, Elly De La Cruz crushed a 450' home run to allow the Reds to eclipse the Milwaukee Brewers, 10-8.

De La Cruz hit an inside-the-park home run for an encore his second of the season on a line drive that got past Sal Frelick's attempt to make a diving catch. He scored four runs on a 3-for-4 night.

"I think running around the bases (biggest thrill)," De La Cruz said. "I like to run. When I saw him miss the ball, I say, 'I'm going home.' It is my mentality. I always think about the extra base. The first one was on the pitch I was looking for."

"The exciting, the fun part to watch is to see Elly run," David Bell said. "The whole bench was yelling home run as soon as the saw the ball get by. It's an exciting play if you're a fan, every second is exciting. But there weren't that many seconds."

"It was important against the Brewers," De La Cruz said. "We put in a lot of work and we want to win the World Series."

The second-year player struggled at the end of last season and his strike out total remains high but he showed signs of getting the feel for the game.

"It is incredible but we're looking at the work to get Elly in to that position. I'm really happy. He has been working so hard. It is nice to see it pay off," Bell said.

Will Benson and Spencer Steer contributed two RBI each to the cause.

The Reds got the scoring going in the second inning. Aaron Ashby of the Brewers was making his first appearance since 2022. He missed all of last season with a torn labrum.

De La Cruz reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman Joey Ortiz. De La Cruz stole third, his sixth stolen base of the season. Santiago Espinal's ground out sent De La Cruz home. Will Benson hit his second home run of the season into the Brewers bullpen in right field. It was his first career home run off a left-handed pitcher.

The Reds took advantage of another Brewers error to plate six runs. Tyler Stephenson opened the inning with a single. De La Cruz singled behind him into right field. Espinal bunted to move the runners up and Ortiz the ball past first baseman Rhys Hoskins and both runners scored. Benson doubled to score Espinal. Stuart Fairchild walked for the second time. He and Benson pulled a double steal. Steer doubled them home. Jeimer Candelario's ground ball skipped past Hoskins for the Brewers' for a single. Steer scored.

Bubba Thompson replaced Jonathan India in the lineup. Fairchild moved to leadoff when India was hit in the left leg during batting practice on a ball hit by Nick Martini. India suffered a contusion.

The Brewers fought back against Graham Ashcraft with a three-run fifth. Sal Frelick walked to lead off but after two ground outs, Brice Turang hit his first home run of the season. Ortiz, Oliver Dunn and William Contreras singled in succession to produce the third run.

Ashby was charged with eight runs but only four were earned in 3 2/3 innings.

De La Cruz hit home runs from both sides of the plate, for the fourth time in Reds' history. Pete Rose did it twice in 1967 and 1968. Javier Valentin was the last to do it in 2005.

While the Brewers defense let their pitchers down, Fairchild took a home run away from Willy Adames in the sixth inning. The inning took a turn for the worst for Ashcraft. Frelick reached base for third time with a single. Jackson Chourio singled. Both scored on a double that eluded Steer in left by Turang, giving him four RBI for the game. Ashcraft through an infield hit away by Ortiz and Turang scored the third run of the inning.

Ashcraft pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk. He struck out six. On June 3, 2023 Ashcraft was charged with 10 earned runs against the Brewers. The Reds had tying runs on base when the game ended in a 10-8 Brewer triumph.

Christian Yelich hit a two-run home run off Justin Wilson in the seventh to make it a one-run game.

Lucas Sims replaced Wilson and struck out three to end the seventh.

De La Cruz' inside-the-park home run was gave him the longest and shortest home runs for the Reds this year.

Fernando Cruz set up Alexis Diaz with a scoreless eighth, striking out two.

Diaz closed the Brewers out for his second save.

Hank Aaron Broke Babe Ruth's Record 50 Years Ago Today

  

Los Angeles Dodger's pitcher, Al Downing, challenged Hank Aaron 50 years ago tonight. 

Aaron hit his 715th career home run into the Atlanta Braves bullpen to break Babe Ruth's career record that stood for four decades.

Tom House, a Braves, reliever caught the ball on the fly in the bullpen. Former Reds' manager, Dusty Baker, was on deck and was the first to greet Aaron at home plate.

"I was a huge Al Downing fan," said the Brewers first year manager Pat Murphy before Monday's contest with the Reds. "I was a big Dodger fan when I was younger, (15). I don't remember if I saw it on TV live or on the highlights but I was rooting for the Dodgers in that particular game. If you grew up in baseball, you knew that number 714. They talk about the shot heard around the world. That was one of them,"

Murphy met Aaron twice with Brewers broadcaster, Bob Uecker, who was Aaron's teammate with the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 and 63.

Aaron was a native of Mobile, Alabama where the Reds' Bubba Thompson was born and raised. 

"They have a stadium in Mobile named after him," Thompson said. "I went a few times. They used to have minor league teams playing there now they have high school games. It is a blessing man to come out of there and to be able to play baseball too. Hank Aaron was "the man", you know. He could do everything on the field. I try to go out there and play the same way. It is a blessing to be from where he's from and keep the tradition going."

Aaron ended the 1973 season with 713 home runs. He received deaths threats from racists, who were upset that a black man would dare to break Babe Ruth's record.

On April 4, the Braves opened the season against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. There was doubt the game would be played that day because a tornado touched down in Sayler Park along the river across from the airport. 

Jack Billingham was on the mound for Cincinnati that day. Ralph Garr walked and Mike Lum singled when Aaron came to the plate with one out. Aaron hit his 714th home run off the facade of the second level of seats for a three-run home run.

The Reds came back to win the game in 11 innings when Pete Rose scored from second base on a wild pitch from Buzz Capra.

Aaron also made his big league debut at Crosley Field in Cincinnati on April 13, 1954. Aaron ended his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976. He hit 10 home runs that season at the age of 42 with 755 career home runs.

Francisco Lindor Shines As Mets Take Series From Reds

 

  

Francisco Lindor homered, doubled and scored two runs as the New York Mets snuck out of town with a 3-1 win to take the series.

The Reds' starter, Andrew Abbott, had traffic on the base paths the first three innings.

Francisco Lindor doubled with one out in the first inning. One out later he scored on an infield hit by Francisco Alverez. Santiago Espinal fielded the ball but threw behind Abbott covering. Espinal was charged with an error as Lindor scored.

The Mets loaded the bases in the second. Abbott walked Starling Marte to start the inning. Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil bunted for singles to load the bases. Harrison Bader lined to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who made a leaping catch. Abbott got ahead of Brandon Nimmo 0-2 but hit him to force in a run.

"It was important to get out of the bases loaded situation with only one run," Abbott said. "The bunts were really well executed. Jeimer was playing over in the shift and they had the drag bunt."

In the third inning, Alvarez walked with one out. Brett Baty singled. Marte beat out a ground ball to third base to load the bases. Abbot struck out Taylor and McNeil popped to short.

Lindor hit his first home run of the season with two outs in the fourth to build a 3-0 lead for New York.

The Reds got to Sean Manaea for a run in the fourth. Jeimer Candelario walked to open the inning. Stuart Fairchild singled with Candelario moving to third base. Elly De La Cruz was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Espinal flied out to right and Candelario scored as the other two runners advanced a base. Luke Maile walked but Bubba Thompson hit into a double play.

"Andrew threw the ball really well," David Bell said. "That was probably the best he's thrown."

Abbott pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned). He gave up seven hits but four never left the infield. Abbott walked two and hit a batter while striking out four.

"That's the way baseball is sometimes," Abbott said.

Tejay Antone threw one pitch in relief but had to leave with an injury. Antone missed most of the last two seasons with injuries.

"Tejay felt something in his elbow," Bell said. "He will have an   today or tomorrow. We hope he will be back soon. He will get through this. He's been through a lot.great He is great person and great teammate."

Brent Suter took over and pitched three scoreless innings. Buck Farmer worked a scoreless eighth.

"It didn't pay off for us in a win but our bullpen set us up for the next couple games," Bell said. "Suter three innings today. Buck pitched two innings yesterday and had another inning today."

Manaea pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits. He walked two and hit two batters. He struck out six, including three out of four spanning the first and second inning.

Manaea was really good today," Bell said. "He had the cutter and sweeper in to our right-handers. We had some hard hit balls but he was really pitched well."

Jorge Lopez, Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino pitched one hitl ess inning each. Raley walked two and Lopez walked one.

Edwin Diaz struck out two to get his second save of the series.

David Bell

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Red Hot Spencer Steer's Home Run Beats Mets In Five-Run Eighth

 

  

Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run off Yohan Ramirez to lead the Reds to an 9-6 win over the New York Mets. The Reds scored five runs to erase a one-run deficit and even the three-game series.

It was Steer's third home run this week. He has driven home 12 runs in the eight Reds' games this season.

"Good things happen when you put the ball in play," Steer said. "We were putting together good at bats all day, I thought. At the end we streamed a lot of good ones together and put pressure on the defense. Obviously, home runs are a nice bonus."

Steer had a good rookie season. He has started this campaign with a .448 average and stole two bases, including home on a double steal in this game.

"Spencer has been doing that going back to last season," David Bell said. "He's always been a good player. He continues to mature and develop. He gains even more confidence. He has always been confident when you have success over and over, he's really believing no matter who he's faces no situation is too big and he wants to be up in those spots."

The Reds broke the ice on this coolish afternoon against Luis Severino. Jeimer Candelario doubled near the feet of left Tyrone Taylor. Candelario's fly ball appeared to be hit deeper than it was. Taylor slipped trying to come back for the ball after drifting too far. Jake Fraley advanced the runner to third with a ground out. Second baseman, Jeff McNeil misplayed Elly De La Cruz ground ball as Candelario scored. Spencer Steer singled De La Cruz to third. Severino walked Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India to score the second run. Will Benson struck out.

In spite of scoring two runs the Reds were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. It extended the Reds' streak to 0-for-13 with runners on second or third.

The Mets had been no better in those situations, stranding runners at first and second against Nick Martinez in the third. They were 0-for-8 in the series until Omar Narvaez singled with the bases loaded to tie the score. Brandon Nimmo followed with a two-run double to score four in the fourth. 

The Mets added on with a run in the fifth when Taylor followed Starling Marte's second single of the game with a double.

Severino retired nine straight batters before Benson's two-b triple in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Encarnacion-Strand extended the RISP drought to 0-for-15 with a ground out.

Buck Farmer entered the game for the Reds in the top of the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings. 

Martinez finished his 200th appearance with five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, one walk and one hit batter. He struck out six batters. All five runs off him scored with two outs.

"The offense and the bullpen picked me up. When you give up runs with two outs it sucks," Martinez said.

Severino left after five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

The Reds scored a pair of runs off Jake Diekman in the sixth with two outs. De La Cruz walked. Steer was hit by a pitch. Pinch hitter Stuart Fairchild singled to break the 0-for-15 streak with RISP on a single to score De La Cruz, sending Steer to third. He and Fairchild pulled a double steal to make the score 5-4.

The Reds eventful five-run frame had some odd plays. Candelario walked against Ramirez to open the inning. Bubba Thompson ran for him. Thompson appeared to steal his fourth base of the season but a balk was called on Ramirez to negate the steal. 

"It seems Bubba Thompson has been a part of everything," Bell said. "It says a lot about guys coming off the bench. He has made the absolute most of his opportunities. It is surprising, he got his first at, today."

The Reds batted around and Thompson struck out looking in his first at bat of the season. He has been used primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in the late innings.

Jake Fraley couldn't check his swing on a two-strike pitch in the dirt. De La Cruz tried to check his swing as Fraley was running. The ball rolled through the shortstop hole into left field to tie the game. Steer hit the home run after that. Fairchild got his second hit on a bunt single. Stephenson singled and India walked to load the bases. Encarnacion-Strand's sacrifice fly capped the scoring.

Alexis Diaz, who was warming up for a save attempt, still entered the game with a four-run lead with no save to earn. He allowed a run on two hits.

Untimely Wildness By Reds Pitchers Lead To Loss

  

New York Mets pitching stranded 12 Reds base runners and eeked out a 3-2 win in the first game of the three-game series.

A wild Fernando Cruz walked three batters to allow the visitors to take a slim lead. Reds pitchers gave up just four hits but walked five and hit two batters.

Meanwhile the Reds were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.  The Mets were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position but scored on two outs.

"There are many things that happen in the end game. We came up short. A lot of times in those situations they (Mets pitchers) made pitches," David Bell said.

Spencer Steer got the Reds off to a quick start with his second home run of the season in the first inning. Steer started the game with a .435 average.

Greene hit Francisco Lindor to start the game and gave up a handle hit double to Brett Bady that barely hit the chalk on the third base line in the first inning. He retired 10 straight after that until he suffered a wild streak in th fifth. Greene walked Tyrone Taylor. Harrison Bader grounded a single into right field, then DJ Stewart to load the bases. Lindor's sacrifice fly tied the score.

"Hunter just keeps getting better," Bell said. "Strikes are definitely a key for sure. He has that kind of stuff that you can trust in the zone. He is going to get better and better as he fine tunes his pitches." 

Greene pitched six innings, allowing a run on three hits, a walk and two hit batters.

"I've been watching Frankie (Montas) in his last two starts, listening to him speak while we've been on the bench. He's not a big strikeout guy but he gets ahead and puts guys away," Greene said.

Fernando Cruz started the seventh and walked three straight batters in front of power hitter Pete Alonso. Alonso hit a ground ball up the middle that Elly De La Cruz reached but his errant flip toss pulled Jonathan India off second base. De La Cruz drew his third error in three games. Bader scored the go-ahead run.  

"He (Cruz) was just missing with his fastball last week early in the count. They (Mets hitters) did a good job of taking those pitches," Bell said.

Emilio Pagan allowed Jeff McNeil's first home run of the season in the eighth.

Edwin Diaz finished a tense ninth inning to get the save. He is the brother of the Reds' Alexis Diaz.

They have a bet that which ever team wins the game, buys the whole family dinner.