Elli de La Cruz scored four runs during the first innings of 10 runs, as Cincinnati Reds on Saturday rode the breakout frame to win the 13-9 interlag on Houston Astro.
Da La Cruz slipped a three-run domestic run and added a run-scoring groundout, as Reds wiped the Astro Right-Hand Lance McCullers Junior (0–1), making his second start of the season. The 10-run frame first marked the inning run by Reds, as he made 14 against Astro in a domestic victory of 18–2 on August 3, 1989.
McCler, whose season was on Sunday, had his first appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, run TJ Freedal and hit Matt Macquelin with a pitch, before D La Cruz smoke a line drive for the left field for his sixth home run. McCullers released an out-out walk to the Santiago Aspinal and Spencer Stear, before the Tyler Stephenson expanded the RBI Single 4–0 lead. Will Banson chased McCler with an RBI double.
Reds continued the attack against Reliever Logan Wanway, in which Freudal added RBI Single and de la cruise made a base-loaded walk a base-loaded walk before reducing Connor Joe with a grounder. Gavin Lux capted the rebellion with a two-rorn single, which scored fridel and mclane as Cincinnati sent 14 hits into a plate.
McCullers gave seven runs on three hits and three walks. He had 19 balls out of 36 pitches.
Despite an 11-run lead-Caclane gave smack to his fifth homer, a two-run shot, which scored the fridle in the third-Reds Starter Brady Singer could not escape from the bottom of the frame.
Astro scored six runs in the third. Christian Walker followed an Isaac Parade RBI double with two runs triple. Victor Karatini (3-for-5) chased the singer with a two-line Homer, which reduced the deficit by 12–7. Singer conceded seven runs on nine hits and walked one with a strike in 2 1/3 innings.
In the fifth, Jeremy Pena (3-for-6, two RBI) closed a run-scoring single within Houston 12-8, but Reds Reliever Graham Aashtraft (3-3) stuck two in scoring position to reduce the danger.
Freedal recorded three hits and scored three runs and McClen scored three runs and did three RBI.
Astro, the second basman Jose Altuve, departed in the third with Right Hamstring Spices. Brendon Roders came to hit the ultuve and remained in the game.
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