ST. LOUIS — The Cincinnati Reds didn’t do much in their series opener Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals until a failed late rally.
But that doesn’t mean rookie phenom Elly De La Cruz hasn’t done something worth watching for the fourth major league game in as many days.
Because of course he did.
After striking three times against left-hander Jordan Montgomery in a 7-4 loss in the opener of a nine-game road trip, De La Cruz – turned and struck from the left side – hit a ball so hard (98 mph) into the ground just yards in front of the plate against right-hander Chris Stratton that he bounced high in the air to the shortstop, who was forced to hold him as De La Cruz crossed first base.
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It was a key moment in the Reds’ two-legged rally in the eighth.
And also gave the new kid a four-game hitting streak to start his career.
But neither De La Cruz nor the Reds have made much noise so far.
In fact, the man who has caused so much buzz, ruckus and electricity at Great American Ball Park for the past few days was so quiet that night that some of “baseball’s top fans” could be heard chanting ” overrated” to baseball’s hottest prospect.
What obviously wasn’t calm Friday night?
Bats belonging to last-place Cardinals against Reds starter Ben Lively – particularly those of Nolan Arenado, Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, who hit a combined quarter-mile of home runs.
Each hit was a two-run homer, in the first, second, and seventh innings, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz delivers one of the few highlights of the loss