CINCINNATI — The Reds haven’t won every time Elly De La Cruz reaches base during his on-base streak, but when the electric shortstop gets aboard, the offense often finds a spark.
“Out of all the talented players in the league, he’s the one where a walk feels like more than just a walk,” said Reds manager Terry Francona. “With most hitters, walking them might feel like a win for the pitcher. With Elly, it’s still dangerous for the other team.”
De La Cruz drew a walk in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Nationals, pushing his career-best streak of reaching safely to 23 consecutive games. Despite that, Cincinnati struggled offensively, dropping the final two games of the series and finishing the homestand with a 3-4 record.
It almost looked like De La Cruz would extend his streak in flashier fashion.
With rain falling in the fifth, De La Cruz — batting right-handed — launched a 1-0 pitch from MacKenzie Gore down the left-field line. Third-base umpire Sean Barber initially ruled it a two-run homer. Fireworks lit up Great American Ball Park, but De La Cruz hesitated on his trot, unsure it stayed fair.
“I didn’t celebrate too hard because I thought it might’ve been foul,” Francona said. “Then for a second, I thought it maybe nicked the foul pole.”
After the umpiring crew conferred and conducted a review, the call was overturned — foul ball.
“I knew right away it was foul,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We just had to wait until he touched home. He crushed it, though — glad it didn’t count.”
Later in the at-bat, De La Cruz walked after Gore slipped mid-delivery.
During his 23-game streak, De La Cruz is hitting .287 with three home runs, 13 walks, and 40 times on base. Despite his occasional game-breaking moments, his overall production has yet to fully catch fire. On the season, he’s batting .269 with a .771 OPS, five homers, 25 RBIs, 13 steals, and 41 strikeouts over 153 plate appearances.
“There’s probably still more in the tank,” Francona added. “That’s what makes it exciting.”
Martinez Continues Strong Stretch
Starting pitcher Nick Martinez delivered another quality outing, allowing just one run and four hits across six innings with no walks and six strikeouts. After giving up a pair of hits in the second, Luis García Jr. drove in the lone run on a sacrifice fly.
“I really found a good rhythm with my mechanics and felt loose,” said Martinez, who owns a 2.03 ERA over his last three starts. “Even when I missed, they were good misses.”
His changeup was particularly sharp, generating 16 swings and seven whiffs on 24 pitches, including three swinging strikeouts.
“I was locating it better in the zone today,” he said. “Physically, I’m in a better place. Earlier in the season, I was forcing things and not staying loose. Today was different — I felt more athletic and fluid.”
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