Elly De La Cruz drove in four runs during a 10-run first inning as the visiting Cincinnati Reds rode that breakout frame to a 13-9 interleague victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
De La Cruz slugged a three-run home run and added a run-scoring groundout as the Reds pounced on Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1), who was making his second start of the season. The 10-run frame marked the most first-inning runs by the Reds since they plated 14 against the Astros in an 18-2 home victory on Aug. 3, 1989.
McCullers, whose season debut on Sunday was his first appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, walked TJ Friedl and hit Matt McLain with a pitch before De La Cruz smoked a line drive to left field for his sixth home run. McCullers issued one-out walks to Santiago Espinal and Spencer Steer before Tyler Stephenson laced an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0. Will Benson chased McCullers with an RBI double.
The Reds continued the onslaught against reliever Logan VanWey, with Friedl adding an RBI single and McLain a bases-loaded walk before De La Cruz plated Connor Joe with a grounder to short. Gavin Lux capped the uprising with a two-run single that scored Friedl and McLain as Cincinnati sent 14 hitters to the plate.
McCullers allowed seven runs on three hits and three walks. Of his 36 pitches, 19 were balls.
Despite being gifted an 11-run lead – McLain smacked his fifth homer, a two-run shot that scored Friedl in the third — Reds starter Brady Singer could not escape the bottom of that frame.
The Astros plated six runs in the third. Christian Walker followed an Isaac Paredes RBI double with a two-run triple. Victor Caratini (3-for-5) chased Singer with a two-run homer that sliced the deficit to 12-7. Singer allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk with one strikeout over 2 1/3 innings.
Houston closed to within 12-8 on a run-scoring single by Jeremy Pena (3-for-6, two RBIs) in the fifth, but Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft (3-3) stranded two in scoring position to mute the threat.
Friedl recorded three hits and scored three runs and McLain scored three runs and had three RBIs.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve departed in the third with right hamstring tightness. Brendan Rodgers came on to pinch hit for Altuve and remained in the game.
–Field Level Media
