Reds Dominate Rays 12-6 Behind De La Cruz’s Two Homers, Extend Winning Streak to Five
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds continued their red-hot start to the season with a commanding 12-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, powered by a relentless offensive surge that included five home runs.
Young star Elly De La Cruz led the charge, smashing two homers and driving in five runs, while rookie Sal Stewart delivered three RBIs to tie for the MLB lead. The Reds (16-8) have now won five straight, marking their best 24-game start since 2006.
Early Offensive Explosion
De La Cruz wasted no time setting the tone, launching a two-run homer in the first inning to give Cincinnati an early lead. The 22-year-old phenom later added a solo shot in the ninth, his eighth of the season, to cap off a dominant night. With six career multi-homer games, he surpassed Reds legend Pete Rose for the most by a switch-hitter in franchise history.
“It’s always special to make history, especially in this organization,” De La Cruz said postgame. “But the most important thing is we’re winning.”
The Reds piled on early, building a 9-0 lead by the sixth inning. Stewart contributed with a two-run single and a sacrifice fly, tying Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the MLB RBI lead (24). Ke’Bryan Hayes, Dane Myers, and Spencer Steer each added solo homers, with Myers scoring four times in a breakout performance.
Pitching Holds Strong
Cincinnati’s pitching staff kept the Rays in check for most of the night. Starter Chase Burns (2-1) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on Jonathan Aranda’s sixth-inning homer—the first long ball the Reds had surrendered in seven games.
Tampa Bay’s Steven Matz (3-1) struggled, lasting only three innings while giving up four runs. The Rays (12-13) have now lost four of their last five, slipping below .500.
Historic Start for Cincinnati
The Reds’ 16-8 record is their best through 24 games in 18 years, and they’ve now moved eight games above .500 for the first time since August 2023. Manager David Bell praised the team’s balance.
“We’re getting contributions from everyone—veterans, rookies, pitchers, hitters,” Bell said. “That’s what it takes to sustain success.”
Looking Ahead
Cincinnati will aim for a series sweep Wednesday, sending left-hander Brandon Williamson to the mound against Rays righty Nick Martinez. A win would extend their streak to six—a feat they haven’t achieved since last June.
For Tampa Bay, the pressure mounts as they try to avoid falling further behind in the competitive AL East.
— Reported by Nexio News
