Elly De La Cruz had three hits 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 each for the Reds, who won for just the third time in the last 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 12.
Bryan Reynolds’ third-inning RBI staked the Pirates to a 1-0 lead behind Bailey Falter (3-6), who retired the first nine batters he faced before the Reds batted around 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 being recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Monday, lofted a sacrifice fly.
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 and Steer each had RBI singles in the bottom half for the Reds, who piled on in the sixth on run-scoring hits by Luke Maile (single) and India (double) immediately before De La Cruz launched a 439-foot homer into the Riverboat atop center field.
De La Cruz had a chance to complete the cycle in the eighth, when 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 scored for the Pirates. Cruz hit a two-run homer in the seventh. Reynolds also had 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