Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz steals home with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras covering during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz (44) is congratulated by TJ Friedl after stealing home during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Elly De La Cruz became the first Reds player since 1919 to steal second, third and home in the same inning, the latest electrifying play from the franchise-changing rookie, and Cincinnati beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Saturday.
De La Cruz broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning with a two-out RBI single off Elvis Peguero, then got to work making the reliever’s life miserable. He stole second. Then, on a 1-2 pitch from Peguero (1-2), he swiped third without a throw.
The rattled reliever caught the ball from his catcher in front of the mound and turned his back as he walked slowly toward the rubber. Pausing only to put his helmet back on, De La Cruz walked down the third base line, broke into a sprint and easily beat Peguero’s rushed throw to the plate.
De La Cruz bounced up in jubilation and skipped toward the dugout, leaping to high-five his teammates. After Joey Votto made the last out, Peguero was booed off the field.
The surging Reds, who were 27-33 when De La Cruz was promoted from the minors on June 6, improved to 23-7 since and expanded their lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central to two games.
De La Cruz has 16 stolen bases in 30 games and went 2-for-5 Saturday to improve his batting average to .328. The shortstop’s only blemish was a nonchalant toss to second for the final out, but the play withstood a replay challenge.
Lucas Sims (3-1) threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, Jonathan India’s sacrifice fly in the ninth gave the Reds a three-run lead, and All-Star Alexis Diaz got the last three outs for his 26th save in 27 chances.
Willy Adames homered twice for the Brewers, a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast, his team-leading 16th, in the third.
Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Milwaukee starter Colin Rea, and Will Benson hit a solo shot in the third for Cincinnati, which set a franchise record of 22 consecutive games with a homer. The 1956 Reds went deep in 21 straight games.
Brice Turang’s run-scoring triple in the fourth off Reds starter Luke Weaver made it 5-4. Cincinnati’s Jake Fraley tied the game 5-all with an RBI double in the fifth.
Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich extended his hitting streak to eight straight games with a run-scoring double in the third.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell was ejected in the top of the ninth after plate umpire John Tumpane called a balk on Abner Uribe. Third baseman Brian Anderson was also tossed.
BURNES AN ALL-STAR
Milwaukee RHP Corbin Burnes (7-5, 3.94 ERA) was named to the NL All-Star team for the third straight year, replacing Atlanta Braves RHP Spencer Strider.
ROSTER MOVES
The Reds selected the contract of RHP Michael Mariot, optioned RHP Tony Santillan to Triple A-Louisville and designated OF Henry Ramos for assignment. … The Brewers recalled Uribe from Triple-A Nashville, designated RHP Tyson Miller for assignment, reinstated RHP Jason Alexander (right rotator cuff) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Nashville, and sent RHP Jack Cousins (right shoulder) to the Rookie ACL Brewers on a rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
LHP Wade Miley (5-2, 3.36 ERA) starts for the Brewers in Sunday’s series finale. The Reds had not announced a starter.
