ST. LOUIS (AP) – A day after Elly De La Cruz jokingly called himself “the fastest man alive,” the rookie backed that up with St. Louis in the series finale.
De La Cruz showed his pace, scoring two hits, hitting base four times and getting the go-ahead with a headfirst sliding grounder in the eighth inning that led the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 over the Cardinals on Sunday.
“Yeah, I’m faster,” De La Cruz said with a smile through a translator. “Anytime they don’t approach me, I have an opportunity to contribute when I’m on base. Whenever I’m on base, I can score.”
Learn more from the Citrus County Chronicle
De La Cruz hit an infield single in the first inning at a sprint speed of 31.2 feet per second, with the 21-year-old reaching base ahead of 41-year-old pitcher Adam Wainwright.
“I knew I could do it,” De La Cruz said. “We’re hectic every time.”
De La Cryz equalized the score with an RBI single in the third round to make it 2-2. He De La Cruz went in the sixth, stealing second place and scoring after a single from Tyler Stephenson to equalize 3-3.
Then, in the eighth, De La Cruz took the lead on a full-count push from Jordan Hicks (1-4), advanced through Spencer Steer’s groundout and finished third through Willson Contreras’ passball.
With the infield in, Stephenson hit a two-hopper at Paul DeJong, and the shortstop’s throw landed slightly over first baseline and in the dirt. The ball bounced off Contreras’ mitt as the catcher attempted to score a swipe tag, and De La Cruz slammed the plate with his left hand.
“Right here, I was just trying to get a run for the team and help the team win,” De La Cruz said. “I’m glad I was able to score this run.”
Stephenson said: “I was just as shocked when I turned around and saw it was safe. He’s an incredible talent. Exactly what he can achieve with his speed.”
Cincinnati manager David Bell was impressed.
“That run there was full speed,” Bell said. “It’s a different speed to be able to beat this game. It was a solid batter for a shortstop with a really good arm. He just escaped the throw. It’s pretty incredible.”
De La Cruz is .364 (8 for 22) with five walks, three stolen bases, a .481 on-base percentage and a 1.117 OPS in six games since his debut Tuesday. He has a double, triple, home run and four RBIs.
“He’s a good player and he uses his speed appropriately and in different ways,” said St. Louis coach Oliver Marmol. “He beat us.”
Ian Gibaut (6-1) allowed a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for relief. Alexis Díaz threw a 1-2-3 ninth to keep 15 save chances perfect while the Reds held off the Cardinals two of three.
“It was a great show,” Bell said. “It’s always difficult to play against this team here. All three were hard fought matches. We felt we had to play really well to get two wins here.”
St. Louis went 1-for-11 with runners in goal position and is 9-for-70 (.129) in its last 12 games. The bottom-ranked Cardinals are 7-15 in one-run games and are eight games behind NL Central leaders Pittsburgh. St. Louis has lost seven of its last nine games.
“We are all very upset with the way things are going. “We keep showing up and expecting it to be different, and it doesn’t stay that way,” Wainwright said. “The only common denominator we had is that we found ways to lose. We lose every game in different ways.”
Jonathan India hit a home run in the first round, but in the second the Cardinals went 2-1 through a runs-scoring single from Jordan Walker and an RBI grounder from Tommy Edman.
Nolan Arenado hit an RBI triple in the third set.
Wainwright gave up three runs and a right run in 5 2/3 innings and is 0-1 in his last three outings. He made his 397th start for Wainwright, third for St. Louis behind Bob Gibson and Bob Forsch…. Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene made his first start since June 1, allowing three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. His fastball averaged 98 mph, 0.6 mph slower than his season average. Due to a stiffness in his right hip, he canceled his scheduled start.
Edman made his tenth appearance at the center this season. He also appeared as shortstop (27 games), second (21), and right (eight). The only other Cardinal in franchise history to appear at second base, shortstop and centerfield in more than 10 games was Dave Brain for the 1904 Cardinals.
Paul Goldschmidt was caught stealing in the seventh inning. This ended a streak of 30 consecutive stolen bases without being caught since 2019.
Reds: Option for RHP Kevin Herget after Triple-A Louisville. Herget pitched 1 1/3 innings Saturday after being called off earlier that day. He allowed three runs and four hits.
Reds: RHP Casey Legumina (bruised right ankle) returned from rehabilitation and was reinstated on Sunday from the 15-day injury list. He is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in eight assists this season. … 3B Nick Senzel (right knee injury) is on course to join the Houston team and be activated on Friday.
Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (low back strain) received two injections in his back on June 1 in Los Angeles: a cortisone and lidocaine injection and an epidural for nerve block. He is scheduled to meet with the doctor who administered the injections on Thursday and may be able to resume his baseball activities the next day.
Reds: RHP Luke Weaver (1-2, 6.27) will be making his second career appearance and will face the Royals on Monday, who will play with RHP Zack Greinke (1-6, 4.59). On opening day, Weaver was on the 15-injured list with a right elbow flexor strain and made his season and Reds debut on April 20. Greinke is 8-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 14 career starts against Cincinnati.
Cardinals: LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-2, 6.00) meets San Francisco’s RHP Logan Webb (4-6, 3.09) on Monday. In his last start, Liberatore only lasted four innings and allowed five runs and his first home run of the year.
preparation zone
Receive updates and player profiles ahead of Friday’s high school games, as well as Saturday’s recap with stories, photos and videos. Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Sign up today
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed, or redistributed without permission.
