Elly De La Cruz Drives In Winning Runs Against Rays Andrew Abbott Improved His ERA In A No-Decision

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Elly De La Cruz came through with a clutch two-run single to send the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-2 loss.

The Reds improved to a season-high five games over .500 for the second time this season at 55-50. The Rays dropped to 53-52.

Andrew Abbott threw five scoreless innings before Yandy Diaz hit his 18th home run to lead off  the sixth inning.

Ryan Pepiot allowed two base runners Elly De La Cruz doubled and walked in the first five frames.

The Reds took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. TJ Fridl walked with one out. Matt McLain hit a ground ball up the middle. Second baseman Jose Caballero made a diving stop but Friedl beat the flip to Taylor Walls at shortstop. De La Cruz hit a bleeder up the line that Pepiot fielded and threw him out as the runners moved up. Austin Hays hit a ground ball into the hole at short. Walls was charged with an error as the ball rolled into left field and both runners scored.

Only Paul Skenes at 1.91 has a lower ERA

Abbott toiled six innings allowing one run on two hits and three walks. He dropped his ERA to 2.09 and now is just two innings short of qualifying for the ERA tittle with 103 1/3 innings. The rule is one inning per teams scheduled games which in 105.

The Rays got even against Graham Ashcraft. With one out Caballero walked. Jonny DeLuca singled to right to put runners at the corners. Josh Lowe singled and tied the score. 

Terry Francona was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Willie Traynor. Ashcraft got out of the inning with two ground outs.

De La Cruz put the Reds on top with a bloop single on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded. Spencer Steer walked to start the inning against Bryan Baker. with two outs, Friedl walked. In the middle of Mclain's at bat, Baker had to leave with an injury. Garrett Cleavinger was charged with the walk to McLain to load the bases.

"Good things can happen when you put the ball in play," Freddie Benevides said after taking over for Francona's ejection.

"I'm just trying to hit the ball," De La Cruz agreed.

Tony Santillan pitch a scoreless eighth to set up Emilio Pagan's 22nd save in 25 chances but RBI singles by Friedl and McLain pushed the game beyond a save situation.

He pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win.