CINCINNATI — In a dominant display, the Cincinnati Reds overpowered the Texas Rangers 14-3 on Monday night, spearheaded by an exceptional performance from Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz dazzled with a single, a double, and two powerful home runs, driving in a career-best seven RBIs to electrify the home crowd.
Brady Singer made a remarkable first impression in his initial appearance for Cincinnati after moving from the Kansas City Royals in November. The right-handed pitcher shined with seven scoreless innings, echoing a feat last accomplished in a Reds debut by the famed Tom Seaver against Montreal in 1977. Singer, who impressed by striking out eight batters, walked two, and allowed a mere one hit, set the stage for the Reds’ victory.
De La Cruz’s first home run, a commanding three-run smash to center field in the second inning, propelled the Reds to an early 6-0 advantage. He would follow up with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, showcasing an explosive start to his season. As the game unfolded, Cincinnati continued to pile on the runs, doubling their score to 12-0 during a prolific sixth inning. The victory marked the Reds’ highest-scoring game since a 19-2 triumph over St. Louis in late September 2023.
Facing off against the Reds, Texas’ rookie pitcher Kumar Rocke struggled, conceding six earned runs over three innings. Despite their best efforts, including Jake Burger’s home run in the ninth inning, the Rangers could not close the substantial gap. Unfortunately, Cincinnati’s first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand experienced a moment of tension when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, leading him to remain in the dugout during the seventh.
The game opened with Matt McLain, who was making a strong comeback after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the 2024 season. He contributed to Cincinnati’s lead with his third home run, bumping the score to 2-0 in the first inning. Gavin Lux also stood out, adding an RBI double, marking Cincinnati’s fourth straight hit at the game’s outset as they swiftly moved to a 3-0 lead.
On a notable strategic note, Cincinnati executed their first steal attempt of the season with De La Cruz’s effort in the first inning, ending a stretch where they were one of just two teams without a single stolen base attempt.
The engaging series is set to continue on Tuesday, with the Reds planning to rely on right-hander Carson Spiers. He will face Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi, who comes into the game after starting Texas’ opening day for the second consecutive season and posting a 3.00 ERA.