His HR was, then wasn't, then still wasn't: No big deal for steady De La Cruz
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CINCINNATI -- The Reds haven't won every game that Elly De La Cruz reaches safely during his streak. But when the shortstop gets on base, it's often bountiful for the lineup.
“Of all the good players in the game, he’s the one guy I’ve seen that when he walks, the impact just starts more," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "Where sometimes you lose a hitter, they pitch around a hitter and say ‘Ah, [crap].’ But if they walk Elly, it can still help us.”
With a fifth-inning walk Sunday, De La Cruz extended his career-high streak of reaching safely to 23 games. But the Reds didn't do enough offensively during a 4-1 loss to the Nationals on Sunday as they dropped the final two games of the three-game series and finished the homestand 3-4.
De La Cruz came oh-so-close to continuing his personal streak in a more thrilling fashion.
As it rained harder in the bottom of the fifth, De La Cruz was batting right-handed when he turned on a 1-0 pitch from Nationals lefty starter MacKenzie Gore. De La Cruz pulled the ball toward the left-field foul pole. To third-base umpire Sean Barber, the ball appeared to land fair and was ruled a two-run home run.
Even De La Cruz didn't seem to believe it was fair while carrying his bat as he trotted to first base as celebrational fireworks exploded.
“I didn’t let myself get too overboard there because I thought it was foul," Francona said. "Then for a second there, I thought it hit the foul pole because I saw it left.”
All four umpires gathered and changed the call to a foul ball. A crew chief review confirmed it.
"I saw it right away. We knew it was foul," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We had to wait for him to cross home plate. But he hit the ball hard. We're glad it went foul."
Later in the plate appearance, De La Cruz drew a walk to extend his on-base streakas Gore slipped and fell on the mound during his delivery.
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During his streak, De La Cruz is batting .287 with three homers and 13 walks. He has reached 40 times. Despite a couple of electric performances, he still hasn't consistently caught fire offensively.
In 35 games this year, De La Cruz is batting .269 with a .771 OPS, five homers, 25 RBIs and 13 steals. He has walked 16 times with 41 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances.
“There’s probably more in there, which is exciting for us," Francona said.
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Quality start for Martinez
In back-to-back outings, Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez has worked a quality start. Against the Nats, he allowed one run and four hits over six innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He gave up a double and a single to open the second inning, and Luis García Jr. followed with a sacrifice fly.
“I got into a good rhythm with my mechanics and really felt free," said the pitcher, who has a 2.03 ERA over his last three starts. "I was able to attack the zone. Even my misses were pretty good."
It was particularly encouraging for the right-hander that his best pitch, the changeup, has found a groove again. He threw it 24 times to get 16 swings and seven whiffs – including three strike-three swings.
“I was throwing it more in the zone today," he said. "That’s a credit to where my body is physically. I was kind of coming out of it a little too early my last outing -- and really all year. I was trying to force it and search for it instead of being a little more free and more athletic.”
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Stephenson has solid first series
Cincinnati trailed, 1-0, in the bottom of the second inning when Tyler Stephenson hit a 2-2 curveball from Gore for a leadoff homer to left field -- his first of 2025. Since making his season debut on Friday after missing the first 32 games with a left oblique strain, Stephenson is 3-for-10 with the homer and two doubles.
“I feel like the past week or so, I’ve been seeing the ball a lot better," Stephenson said. "Just trying to get pitches I’m supposed to hit and be on time for them.”
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Ashcraft gives up deciding runs
In his first appearance since he dealt three perfect innings with four strikeouts for a win over the Cardinals on Thursday, Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft took the loss vs. Washington. Ashcraft gave up three runs in the seventh inning, including a one-out solo homer to right field by García.
“I just think he left a couple of pitches where he didn’t want to, and he proved he’s human," Francona said.