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Reds 9 Dodgers 8
It was a dazzling MLB debut for Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz Tuesday night at GABP and then a dazzling finish as the Reds scored three runs in the 9th to walk off the Dodgers 9-8 on a Matt McLain bases loaded single. The Reds had trailed 8-3 following a 4th inning Freddie Freeman grand slam off Alex Young.
The Reds scored a run in the 5th-6th-7th. Trailing 8-6 in the 9th, Spencer Steer walked and Tyler Stephenson singled to start the inning. Kevin Newman popped up foul to 1B on an 0-and-2 pitch. Stuart Fairchild walked to load the bases. Curt Casali walked to force in a run and it was 8-7.
Jake Fraley was hit by a pitch to score pinch-runner TJ Hopkins with the tying run. Matt McLain then singled on a high fly ball to left center field to win it.
The De La Cruz Show: The 21-year old reached base three times with a double and two walks. He registered the hardest hit ball by a Reds player this year (112mph) and the fastest sprint speed by a Reds player this season (30.4 feet/second).
Elly's night:
1st AB: Walked on a six pitches, falling behind 1-and-2, but not biting on two hard breaking balls. Scored from 2B on a Tyler Stephenson 2-run single. The crowd stood, pulled out phones and went silent for each pitch.
2nd AB: Rocket double on 0-and-2 pitch for 1st MLB hit...Off the bat at 112 mph. His stride, at 6-foot-6 is something to behold.
3rd AB: 5 pitch walk. The Dodgers wanted nothing to do with him.
4th AB: Lineout to 2B (108.7mph/2nd hardest hit ball overall in the game).
5th AB: Strikeout looking
Ball will find you: The very first batted ball of the game was a chopper to De La Cruz behind the bag at 3B. It glanced off his glove for a single.
Luke Weaver: 3.2 IN, 6 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 86 pitches/52 strikes. ERA now 6.27. He's allowed 12 HR in 47.1 innings this season. He was done with 2-outs and bases loaded in the 4th and trailing 4-3. Alex Young came on to serve up a grand slam to Freddie Freeman on an 0-and-2 pitch to make it 8-3.
Fast start: The Dodgers, who lead MLB in 1st inning runs, put three runs on the board in the 1st vs Weaver. The Reds matched that with three runs in the first vs Tony Gonsolin, who entered with a 1.77 ERA and .151 batting average against.
2 hits: Fraley, India
3 hits: McLain, Stephenson
In a pinch: Will Benson clocked a ball that almost got out for a game-tying two-run homer in the 7th, but had to settle for a rocket single. Benson has followed his 1 for 25 start with a 7 for 21 run. Good for him.
Threat assessment: Double plays short-circuited potential big innings for the Reds in the 6th and 7th innings. Four hits produced one run in the 7th.
Ejected: David Bell was tossed in the 5th inning when he argued the horrific strikezone of umpire Carlos Torres. The 24th ejection of his career.
Ouch: 1B Kevin Newman took a foul ball of his face that split his lip when it bounced off the padding in foul territory behind 1B. He stayed in the game.
Bullpen: Young 1.2 IN, 1 HR, 3 BB.........Cruz 1.2 IN, 0 R......Gibaut 1.0, 0 R....Salazar 1.0 IN, 0 R (Win).
Attendance: 22,602........were averaging 12,579 over previous five Tuesday night home games. Previous high 14,159 (May 24 vs STL).
How the Reds scored
1st: Spencer Steer HBP w/ bases loaded, 3-1 Dodgers
1st: Tyler Stephenson 2-run 1B, 3-3
5th: Stephenson reached on error, India scored, 8-4 Dodgers
6th: India RBI infield single scored Fraley, 8-5 Dodgers
7th: Fairchild RBI infield single scored Steer, 8-6 Dodgers
9th: Curt Casali walked with bases loaded to score Steer, 8-7 Dodgers
9th: Fraley HBP w/ bases loaded, score pinch-runner Hopkins, 8-8
9th: McLain single to score Fairchild, Reds win 9-8