The Cincinnati Reds mashed their way past the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at the Trop, hitting five home runs along the way. At one point, they held a 12-2 lead – that came as they entered the Bottom of the 9th inning – before things went a little sideways for reliever Kyle Nicolas as he tried to finish off the win (1.0 IP, H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K on 42 pitches).
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Let’s focus on the positives here, though, as there were many.
For one, we watched as Elly De La Cruz destroyed a pair of homers as part of a larger 3 for 6, 3 R, 5 RBI game that featured a pair of homers – both from the right side of the plate. His second homer of the night did come against Rays position player Ben Williamson pitching in a mop-up role, but Elly opted to hit righty off the righty Williamson and still managed to sock a homer.
That’s good enough stuff to take home tonight’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game.
Homers also came off the bats of Ke’Bryan Hayes and Dane Myers, theirs coming back to back off Rays starter Steven Matz in the Top of the 2nd. Hayes finished with a 1 for 3 night that included a pair of walks and a pair of runs scored in easily his best offensive outing of the season. Spencer Steer also homered (and walked twice), while Sal Stewart merely chipped in with a 2 for 4 night that included a trio of ribbies and another stolen base.
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Despite the struggles from Nicolas late, Chase Burns (5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K on 97 pitches) was dominant for most all of his outing to lead the pitching line. He entered the Bottom of the 6th having allowed nary a run before a 2-run blast in an already-decided game ended up sending him to the showers. He pummeled the zone throughout the early goings of this one and once again looked every bit the part of a legitimate ace in the making.
The win clinches the series win for the Reds and marks their 5th straight win on this road trip. They also now sit 16-8 on the season and have opened up a 2-game lead on the rest of the National League Central Division.
Go Reds!
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