Elly De La Cruz’s two-run double in the tenth inning secures Reds’ 3-0 victory against Cubs

The Cincinnati Reds wrapped up their season with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in a 10th-inning breakthrough. Elly De La Cruz emerged as the hero with a two-run double that paved the way for the Reds’ win. The decisive hit came on an 0-2 count against Cubs pitcher Ethan Roberts, following a single by Luke Maile and a walk by Jonathan India. Tyler Stephenson added another run with a single to center field, helping the Reds snap a five-game losing streak.
Tony Santillan secured the win for Cincinnati, while Buck Farmer notched his first save of the season. The Cubs, aiming for a series sweep, struggled at the plate and mustered only three hits in the game. Notably, key players Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson were rested for Chicago.
On the mound, Caleb Kilian made his first start for the Cubs, allowing three hits and two walks with four strikeouts across five innings. Meanwhile, Hunter Greene started for the Reds, giving up a hit with three walks and three strikeouts in four innings of work.
De La Cruz showcased his speed with a pair of stolen bases, concluding the season with an impressive 67 steals, the most in MLB. His performance marked the first time a Cincinnati player led the majors in steals since Bobby Tolan in 1970. Luis Vazquez notched his first career hit for the Cubs, who matched their record from the previous season at 83-79.
The Reds finished the season with a 77-85 record, experiencing a slight decline from the previous year. Cincinnati has not achieved back-to-back winning seasons for over a decade. Furthermore, the team is set to begin the search for a new manager after parting ways with David Bell, who was relieved of his duties last week after a six-year tenure.
Injury concerns arose for the Cubs as reliever Keegan Thompson exited the game during an eighth-inning at-bat due to an undisclosed injury. Despite the disappointment of missing the postseason, the Cubs recorded 2,990,794 ticket sales this season, a modest increase from the previous year. The team’s hopes for a playoff spot were dashed as they lagged behind NL Central champions Milwaukee in the final stretch of the season.
Looking ahead, Cincinnati will kick off its spring season on February 22 with split-squad matchups against Cleveland and Milwaukee. On the other hand, Chicago will commence its exhibition games on February 20 with a game at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ training complex.