Elly De La Cruz had three hits on Monday night, including a titanic two-run homer that capped a four-run, sixth-inning outburst, as the Cincinnati Reds rolled to an 11-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.
De La Cruz and Spencer Steer finished with three RBIs apiece for the Reds, who won for just the third time in their past nine games as they moved into a three-way tie for third place in the National League Central with the Pirates and Chicago Cubs. All three teams are 37-41.
Oneil Cruz homered and had three RBIs for the Pirates, who have lost seven of their past 12.
Bryan Reynolds’ third-inning RBI single staked the Pirates to a 1-0 lead to back Bailey Falter (3-6), who retired the first nine batters he faced before the Reds sent nine hitters to the plate during a five-run fourth. Steer and Stuart Fairchild each laced two-run doubles with one out before Levi Jordan, who made his major league debut after having his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville earlier Monday, lofted a sacrifice fly to right.
The Pirates inched within 5-3 in the fifth, when Yasmani Grandal had an RBI single and Cruz hit into a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
But De La Cruz (RBI double) and Steer (RBI single) each drove home a run in the bottom half of the frame for the Reds, who piled it on in the sixth with run-scoring hits by Luke Maile (single) and Jonathan India (double) immediately before De La Cruz launched a 439-foot homer into the Riverboat Deck overlooking center field.
De La Cruz had a chance to complete the cycle in the eighth, but he grounded out to second.
India finished 3-for-4.
Carson Spiers (1-1) earned his first big-league win after allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings.
Edward Olivares was 3-for-3 with two runs for the Pirates. Cruz hit a two-run homer in the seventh. Reynolds finished with two hits.
Falter gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.
–Field Level Media
