Rookie Ellie De La Cruz gets the rotation and the Reds beat the Braves, their 12th straight.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Surprise rookie Eli De La Cruz got in the rotation, Joey Votto homered to tie and go-ahead, and the Cincinnati Reds extended their streak to 12 games with an 11-10 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Friday.
In an intense matchup between the division leaders in the National League, Cincinnati overcame an early 5-0 deficit to snap Atlanta’s winning streak to eight.
The Reds’ current hitting streak surpasses 1949 and 1957 as the second-longest in team history and the longest in a single season since 1900.
De La Cruz became the first Cincinnati player to hit for the cycle in 34 years. He finished with a triple in the sixth inning for a total of four RBIs.
The cycle was the seventh in team history, the fifth since 1900 and the first since Eric Davis accomplished the feat on June 2, 1989 against the San Diego Padres.
De La Cruz, like Davis, wears the number 44.
“I can’t find the words to describe it right now,” De La Cruz said. “I’m happy and excited. Eric Davis is one of the legends of the game and fortunate to be in Cincinnati. He certainly supported me wearing the No. 44 jersey, and it’s incredible that he’s the first person to do so.”
Many in the crowd of 43,086 at Great American Ball Park chanted “Ellie! Ellie!” This was the highest attendance in history at the stadium on April 17, with 7,375.
“I think it was probably the best regular-season game I’ve ever played,” Reds manager David Bell said.
“I think it has a lot to do with the atmosphere in the stadium. Both teams played well. They didn’t come full circle, but they showed the team that they are there. A good performance is necessary to win the match,” he added.
Alex Young (3-0), the third of seven pitchers for Cincinnati, got two outs for the win.
Puerto Rican Alexis Diaz worked a scoreless ninth inning and earned his 21st save in as many chances.
Colin McHugh of the Braves (3-1) took the loss.
For the Reds, Dominican De La Cruz was 5-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs.
For the Braves, Venezuela’s Ronald Acuna Jr. 5-3, two runs scored, one earned, Orlando Arcia 5-1, one RBI. Dominican Marcel Ozuna 5-1. Puerto Rican Eddie Rosario scored a goal, 3-2.
