On June 5th, the Cincinnati Reds were 27-33 and 5.5 games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central Division. The next day, the Reds promoted their top prospect Elly De La Cruz and the team has not been the same since.
In the minors, De La Cruz batted .298, with 71 doubles, 22 triples, 49 home runs, 190 RBIs, had 94 walks and stole 71 bases through four seasons. As good as he was in the Reds system, no one could have predicted what impact his call up would have on the big club.
On June 6th, the Reds started a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and after the rookie phenom joined the team for the home series, he helped the Reds to taking two out of three from the Dodgers. After the Reds dropped the first game of a three game set with the St. Louis Cardinals, they went on a winning streak that ended with 12 straight victories.
In that time frame, which spanned from June 10 to June 23, De La Cruz batted .369 (17 for 46), with 13 runs scored, four doubles, a triple, two home runs, eight RBIs, four walks and six stolen bases. The most exciting ball player for the Reds helped spark the team to 12 straight wins with pure speed and getting on base with timely hitting.
During the streak, the Reds took three of four from the Cardinals and swept the Royals, Astros and Rockies (3 games each). Their win streak ended in a 6-7 loss to the Atlanta Braves and after dropping the three game series to the NL East leaders and dropping the first game of a three game set against the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati finished the month on a three game winning streak.
The call up and a huge win streak, gave the Reds a great month at 18-9 and propelled them to the top of the division at 44-38 by the end of the month of June.
De La Cruz was just part of the resurgence as others players had standout performances in helping with the winning surge to the top of the division. See the states of each from the call up to the end of the win streak. (June 6 to June 23).
Standout Players
Alexis Diaz – 7 straight saves from June 11 to June 23
Lucas Sims – four eight straight one inning appearances with no runs allowed
Ian Gibaut and Alex Young – three wins in relief during the streak
Will Benson – 13/32 (.406) 9 Runs, Double, Triple, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 11 BB
Jake Fraley – 8 for 21 (.380), 8 Runs, Double, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, 3 BB
Joey Votto , off DL on June 19th, 4 for 13 (.307), 4 Runs, 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, BB
Tyler Stephenson – 17 for 58 (.293), 6 Runs, Double, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 4 BB
TJ Friedl – 12 for 43 (.279), 7 Runs, 3 Doubles, HR, 7 RBIs, 8 BB
Matt McLain – MLB Debut on May 15, 18 for 65 (.276), 11 Runs, 2 Doubles, 3 Triples, HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB
Jonathan India – 14 for 62 (.225), 11 Runs, 2 Doubles, 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, 5 BB
Kevin Newman – 9 for 36 (.250), 4 Runs, 5 Doubles, HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB
Spencer Steer – 11 for 54 (.203), 8 Runs, 2 Doubles, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 9 BB
As the calendar flipped to July, the Reds entered the month having taken the first game of their three game series with the San Diego Padres and proceeded to win the series two games to three with a win in the rubber game on Sunday July 2nd. The Reds then travelled to the D.C. to play the Washington Nationals from July 3rd to the 6th and came away with a four game sweep. During that series, De La Cruz showed off his own fireworks by going 10 for 18 (.555), with four runs scored, three doubles, a home run, three RBIs, three stolen bases.
The Reds dropped the last series before the break to the Milwaukee Brewers by losing two of the three games, and finished the first half in first place at 50-41, and a game up on the Brewers. In that series, De La Cruz had an exciting inning, when he stole second, third and home in the same sequence.
The Brewers and Reds faced off to start the second half and so far the Brewers took the first two games, dropping the Reds back into second place in the division. The last three games against Milwaukee the Reds have been shutout and ironically so has De La Cruz, so as he hits so do the Reds.
The Reds are still in a position to either recapture the lead or stick around for a postseason run, one that has not happened since the shortened 2020 season, where they finished 3rd and lost in the NLWC. The last time the Reds won a WS was in 1990, will they be the Cinderella team of 2023 and end the 33 year drought? Will be exciting to watch their down the stretch run.
