Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run home run on the anniversary of his first major league game, helping the Cincinnati Reds secure their fifth consecutive win with an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.
TJ Friedl, Jonathan India, and Will Benson also contributed with runs batted in as the Reds continued their winning streak after sweeping a series in Colorado.
Pitcher Hunter Greene (4-2) struck out eight batters while giving up four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The Reds bullpen kept the Cubs from getting hits for the rest of the game, with closer Alexis Diaz striking out three consecutive batters to end the game after issuing a walk.
All of Chicago’s runs came from home runs, including a two-run homer by Seiya Suzuki and a two-run shot by Christopher Morel.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the importance of the home runs in keeping the team in the game.
Cubs starter Javier Assad (4-2) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Reliever Porter Hodge’s consecutive walks allowed a run with two outs in the seventh inning for the Reds, followed by a two-run single by Will Benson to extend Cincinnati’s lead.
De La Cruz, at 22 years old, hit his 11th home run of the year, giving the Reds their first score of the game in the third inning. Manager David Bell praised De La Cruz’s contribution, noting that it set the tone for the rest of the game.
