Elly De La Cruz, Reds close first half with rubber match vs. Brewers
host Milwaukee Brewers And Cincinnati Reds Will play an important National League Central rubber match on Sunday as both teams look to establish some momentum heading into the All-Star break
Reds With Saturday’s 8–5 win, they assured themselves of sole possession of first place in the division, giving them a two-game lead in the standings.
Joey Votto hit a three-run home run and Eli De La Cruz made headlines by stealing second, third and home in the seventh inning during a plate appearance following an RBI single. Reds 6-5 lead
After the win de la Cruz said, “I said, ‘You know what? Fuck you. Let’s go. ‘” “Luckily I was safe right there. Almost every time I’m on base, I get an opportunity to do that and luckily it was a successful run.”
De la Cruz became the second player since 1961 to steal three bases in a single plate. Hall of Famer Rod Carew did it on May 18, 1969.
“We weren’t aware enough everywhere, on the field, in the dugout, anywhere,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell, referring to his team’s approach to dealing with the burglary at de la Cruz’s home. “It’s all on us. In fact, he plays good baseball.”
Left-hander Wade Miley (5-2, 3.36 ERA) will take the field for Milwaukee in the series finale. Miley is coming off Tuesday’s outing against the Chicago Cubs, allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked twice and scored four runs without getting a decision.
Since returning from a left side injury on June 17, Miley had scored only two runs in three games prior to his last outing.
In 13 career appearances (12 starts), Miley is 6–3 with a 3.10 ERA. Reds, They haven’t faced Cincinnati yet this season
some batsmen in RedsThe lineup has plenty of experience facing Miley, but Joey Votto has gone 4-for-18 (.222) with a home run and two RBIs against the southpaw. Votto and Miley were also teammates when the latter was with Cincinnati through 2020–21.
Reds Will take on right-hander Ben Lively (4-4, 4.11). Lively will be activated from the 15-day injured list after dealing with a right pectoral strain. Sunday will be his first start since June 20
Only the start of a career against Lively Brewers, He gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over seven innings of loss against Milwaukee on June 4.
Andrew Monastero and Victor Caratini both supported Lively in that outing.
Willie Adams will look to continue pushing against Lively after blasting a pair of homers on Saturday. Adams has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, and has gone 12-for-38 (.316) during that span.
Brewers It has won four of the six contests between the NL Central rivals this season. The two teams will reconvene after the All-Star break for a three-game set in Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
