De La Cruz’s Towering Home Run, Lodolo’s Commanding Pitching Lead Reds to Victory Over Padres 5-2!
A mighty swing from Elly De La Cruz sent the ball soaring 443 feet into the bullpen, causing a stir among the Padres’ relievers as they dodged out of its path. Meanwhile, Nick Lodolo orchestrated a masterful pitching performance, teaming up with two relievers to limit the Padres to just four hits while striking out 11, guiding the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-2 triumph on Monday evening.
The Reds defense was on fire, retiring an impressive 23 consecutive batters from the second inning right up to the ninth, with only a solitary hit allowed before the final inning.
Lodolo (3-0) found his rhythm after a shaky start, retiring the last 18 batters he faced following two early walks in the second inning. Fernando Cruz delivered a flawless eighth inning, and Alex Díaz added to the dominance by retiring the first two batters in the ninth. However, Jake Cronenworth broke the silence with a double and later scored on Manny Machado’s single. Despite the late surge from the Padres, the Reds held their ground, with Ha-Seong Kim striking out to end the game.
Reflecting on his performance, Lodolo expressed satisfaction with his synchronization on the mound, particularly after overcoming a challenging second inning. “It felt good. I definitely got synced up there, especially after that second inning,” Lodolo remarked, highlighting his confidence and improved preparation leading up to each start.
For De La Cruz, the game began with a bang as he launched an impressive homer in the first inning, setting the tone for the Reds. Facing knuckleballer Matt Waldron, De La Cruz capitalized on a 0-2 count, driving a powerful hit to left-center field that sailed over the bullpen and into the stands, marking his eighth homer of the season.
The Padres managed to equalize briefly with Jurickson Profar’s leadoff homer, but the Reds quickly regained control, pushing ahead in the second inning with a combination of hits and strategic plays, including a balk from Waldron.
Lodolo’s stellar pitching performance drew praise from Reds Manager David Bell, who commended his ability to adjust on the fly and maintain confidence throughout the game. “He was outstanding. Give him a lot of credit,” Bell remarked, emphasizing Lodolo’s command of his pitches and his understanding of what it takes to succeed on the mound.
Despite Waldron’s efforts for the Padres, allowing only four hits over six innings, the Reds’ offensive prowess and Lodolo’s pitching brilliance proved too much to overcome, securing a well-deserved victory for Cincinnati.
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