Elly De La Cruz homered, tripled, and drove in six runs for the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of today’s day/night doubleheader. That was more than enough for the road team to take a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Game two will start at 9:38pm ET.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (66-61) |
9 | 9 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Angels (61-66) |
4 | 10 | 1 |
| W: Farmer (4-5) L: Anderson (5-5) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Shohei Ohtani highlights came early in this one. In the top of the 1st inning he struck out two batters in a perfect frame. Then in the bottom of the 1st he hit a 442-foot 2-run home run off of Andrew Abbott – just the 2nd homer he’s allowed to a lefty this season – to put the Angels up 2-0.
But things didn’t go well for Ohtani in the 2nd inning on the mound. He walked Spencer Steer to lead off the inning before getting a pop up. But he would exit the game with what was later described as arm fatigue – something that had kept him off the mound for the previous two weeks – in the middle of his at-bat against Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Tyler Anderson came on to pitch for Los Angeles and got a double play to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning the Angels added to their lead with back-to-back doubles from Andrew Velazquez and Luis Rengifo. Cincinnati would get that run back in the top of the 4th after singles from Matt McLain and Spencer Steer put runners on the corners and Joey Votto picked up an RBI on a ground out to make it 3-1.
The Reds got some help from the Los Angeles defense in the 5th inning. Luke Maile walked with one out, and then Matt McLain would hit a grounder to shortstop with two outs, but Andrew Velazquez threw the ball in the dirt and allowed McLain to reach. That extended the inning for Elly De La Cruz and he made the Angels pay by hitting a 408-foot 3-run homer to put Cincinnati on top 4-3.
Andrew Abbott gave up a leadoff single and then walked Nolan Schanuel to begin the bottom of the 5th inning. That would be the last batter he faced as the Reds called on Buck Farmer to enter from the bullpen. He came through in the clutch, retiring all three hitters he saw in order and stranded both runners to hold onto a 1-run lead.
When the top of the 6th inning began TJ Hopkins came off of the bench to hit for Joey Votto. He hit the ball hard, but it died on the warning track in dead center. Tyler Anderson then struck out the next two batters to send the game to the bottom of the 6th. Buck Farmer returned to the mound for a second inning and got a pop up and a ground out before Alex Young was called on to come in to face lefty Mickey Moniak. That didn’t quite work out as Moniak singled through the infield, but Young struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Reds got the offense going in the right direction in the top of the 7th. Will Benson led off with a single, moved up to second on a ground out, and then took third base when TJ Friedl bunted for a single. Matt McLain then walked to load the bases with one out. Elly De La Cruz then tripled in all three runs to make it a 7-3 ballgame. Spencer Steer followed up with a line drive single to make it 8-3.
The Angels grabbed one of those runs back in the bottom of the 7th inning after Luis Rengifo led off with a triple. He would score two batters later on a ground out, but it would be the only run Los Angeles would get. Cincinnati tacked on a run in the 9th after Matt McLain walked, stole second, and then scored on a Spencer Steer RBI single. Fernando Cruz came on for the 9th and sent the Angels back to the dugout in order to seal the win in the opening game of the day and guarantee a series win.
Key Moment of the Game
Elly De La Cruz hitting a 3-run triple to turn a 1-run game into a 4-run game.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Los Angeles Angels
Wednesday August 23rd, 9:38pm ET
Calling a veteran of Granada, Panama, Desert Storm, Mogadishu, Bosnia and Iraq a boy is comical. I know, you didn’t know, but be careful what you say grasshopper. We don’t want to go challenging someone’s significance do we?
This is in reference to Indy’s earlier post.
I read the post, he wasn’t trying to question your manhood or anything. You even state that he didn’t know your history. So why bring it up? ?
Jason I’m sure you like being called a called boy?
Our boy, like our guy. I’m a vet too although I was aircraft maintenance and not in combat. No offense intended
I don’t get easily offended by other people. I have been through too much in my life to get wound up over being called a boy. I have been called a lot worse. It is great you have served this country, but you are not the only one.
Jason I’m sorry you’ve been through so much.
Take a deep breath
Your contributions are greatly appreciated
Lets get back to arguing bells bullpen mgmt and Kralls nondecisions at the deadline
Wonderful Game 1!
One of the better games of the year
Beaufort, I also served and don’t need your sarcasm. When I said I have been through much it was relating to that. Some of us don’t have to go around bragging about our service time.
Thank you for your service.
I’m from Texas, and “boy” can be used from the most racist of slurs to the friendliest of terms.
And pretty much everything in between.
All depends on context.
“He’s a good old boy….” can have the exact opposite of meanings in different situations.
I don’t always agree with Beaufort and Indy on baseball matters but I sure enjoy and value your contributions to our daily grind.
I hope y’all have got it sorted out.
Let’s see the Reds take two.
Well said, Harry.
Both you guys service are appreciated. I think it meant more as in “our friend” I use that terminology very affectionately in that manner. But I so see how some generations could be offended by the term.
Two straight absolute gifts from the heavens. Yesterday the Angels gift wrapped it to us with the E when we were dead…. and then Ohtani leaves the game today due to injury up
2-0…and if he doesn’t we’re 95% losing that game too. So take advantage of these gifts from above, sweep this double header and take some momentum into Arizona and San Francisco.
I used to go on a Boys’ Trip with my brothers annually. It was an honor to be part of that group.
And without question, thanks to all the Veterans for putting your lives on the line to protect our freedoms.
Abbott battled, but we won the day. Loved that EDLC got big hits from each side of the plate. Still not convinced switch-hitting is the best approach going forward, but you don’t make that change until an off-season. Today it didn’t matter, though I liked the 3B the most.
Glad to see Cruz in the 9th.
He’s been pitching well his last half dozen appearances.
Offense: 9 runs! Thanks, de la Cruz (and the Angels’ D again). A more than welcome sight for sore eyes. Pitching: Abbott did well enough to turn it over to the pen, which was again outstanding – one run. Sure, the star of the game was Elly, but how about Farmer getting three straight outs with the first two put on base by Abbott? Then two more in the next inning? Clutch performance on the mound. WTG, Buck! On to Game 2…
And Gibaut coming in with the bases loaded and leaving them that way.
Yep, solid relief pitching, including strong bail outs.
I think Miami & SFs upcoming schedules will be too much to overcome. Philly, Milw, and the Cubs look pretty strong. That would leave the Reds or Dbacks for the last spot so this trip is everything. Only wildcard might be the Cubs. Their starting pitching isnt that good. Maybe we win 3 of 4 and they fall apart, but they move faster then we do. Suzuki sucks so he sits for a bit. Smyly sucks and he gets pulled from the rotation. Novel concept
Interesting line-up construction for Game 2. And we still don’t know who the “starting pitcher” is.
Good to see TJ back in there. Thinking that means he was removed as a precaution so he could play this evening.
I think it’s been pretty well established he was removed because he was in a lot of discomfort, along the lines of being punched in the stomach or being punched somewhat lower than that. That could theoretically be a serious injury, but I doubted he’d be out very long.
The Gameday on the Reds site says that Richardson is starting.
Interesting having Noelvi Marte leading off.
Detmers, a lefty, pitching for the Angels. His numbers look like Luke Weaver’s.
Why in the world wouldn’t Kennedy be starting this game? He’s had 2 starts and both were pretty good and he can get you 5 or 6 innings. I just don’t get itm.. maybe I’m missing something??
Kennedy is starting Friday.
If the Angels weren’t one of the top payrolls at $235M, i’d almost feel sorry for them having sacrificed the future, to be bad in the present.
Not even adding Reds’ cast-offs Moose & Drury has been enough to boost them. And likely losing Ohtani at the end of the season coupled with one of the league’s worst farm systems seems to be a recipe for sustained failure.
Yes, he has, Harry. Quite well as a closer when Diaz is unavailable.
I’m very concerned about this game due to the fact we only 3 relievers not used in the first game and Richardson who only is likely to go 3 innings at best.
Reds taken 2/2
Ill take that every time
Dig deep and find a way
I remember a series in Arizona 5 years ago or so and michael lorenzen struck out Paul Goldschmidt with the bases loaded on a 3-2 slider and thought that guy is good
Graham ashcraft struck ohtani and trout back to back last night
Thats a competitor there
He proved something
Thanks Doug….
Stephenson up with one out and runners 1st and 2nd and all I’m thinking about is him not hitting it right at the shortstop for a double play….how sad.
Man Hopkins is bad …. He needs be first one on the bus back to Louisville when next move is made …
He’s pitiful – can’t hit a lick , dude constantly watches pitches cut the plate in half . Pitch recognition is awful … you’d think he would be better since he spends all his time behind plate … unbelievable …. He has really regressed
Ooooh. That ball should have been caught Hopkins.
The poor guy doesn’t look like he can handle hitting OR fielding right now. We’re in a pennant race and he’s playing? Hmm
You nailed it – he cannot play at this level and certainly doesn’t need to be playing in the middle of a pennant race
Ha ha Stephenson ! Nice job – guess his pitch recognition was pretty too there ! Credit where credit is due …
Pretty good …