Elly De La Cruz’s sluggish beginning to the 2024 season came to an abrupt halt on Monday when the Cincinnati Reds infielder hit two notably different home runs: a spectacular inside-the-park feat and a 450-foot blast that momentarily seemed destined to land in the Ohio River.
These two homers mark De La Cruz’s first for the season, a much-needed boost for the player who has faced criticism in 2024 for various aspects of his performance, from defense to pitch selection.
The 22-year-old Dominican player raised his batting average to a respectable .297 with three hits in Monday’s thrilling 10-8 victory over the division rival Milwaukee Brewers. Additionally, he stole his sixth base of the season, only trailing Brewers second baseman Brice Turang’s seven steals.
However, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly De La Cruz’s electrifying inside-the-park home run. Not only did he complete the circuit around the bases in under 15 seconds, but he also wasn’t even sprinting out of the batter’s box and still managed to score after the ball eluded a diving Sal Frelick in center field before rolling to the warning track.
Reds manager David Bell recounted the excitement on the bench as soon as the ball passed Frelick, stating, “It’s an exciting play. Every second is exciting. But there weren’t that many seconds.”
Frelick’s daring dive for the ball was a calculated risk, as Brewers manager Pat Murphy explained, acknowledging the Reds’ formidable speed on the bases. Murphy stated, “The Reds’ speed we’ve been dealing with the last number of years. It’s a very good weapon for them.”
De La Cruz expressed his exhilaration at running the bases, emphasizing his mentality of always seeking the extra base: “When I saw him miss the ball, I say, ‘I’m going home.’ It is my mentality. I always think about the extra base.”
But that wasn’t the only highlight for De La Cruz on Monday. Milwaukee’s defensive lapses, including two errors by third baseman Joey Ortiz, contributed to Cincinnati’s four unearned runs. The Reds capitalized on these mistakes, with outfielder Benson hitting his second homer of the season and adding an RBI double, helping the team to an 8-0 lead.
Cincinnati starter Graham Ashcraft pitched impressively in the early innings but faltered later on, allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings. Despite this, outfielder Stuart Fairchild provided a boost with a remarkable catch in right field, robbing Milwaukee’s Willy Adames of a potential home run. Fairchild’s defensive prowess, along with his contribution at the plate, further bolstered the Reds’ performance on Monday.
