'All-Powerful': Elly De La Cruz Shines in Reds' Victory

The Yankees faced the Reds today at Great American Ball Park, showcasing a lineup not seen in Cincinnati for 47 years: four former MVPs in the top four batting positions.

The New York lineup featured MVPs Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. In 1978, the Reds had four MVPs: Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and George Foster.

While the 2025 Reds lack an MVP, they have Elly De La Cruz. The star shortstop contributed three hits and three RBIs, including a game-tying triple in the fourth inning and a home run, leading the team to a 6-1 victory. Coincidentally, this game marked the two-year anniversary of his perfect game against the Braves, falling just a double short of replicating the feat.

"He can do it all," Judge stated, "he can hit, throw, has speed and power—we witnessed it firsthand tonight. He is a complete player. It’s a blessing to have someone like him in the lineup, a spark plug. No matter if there are runners on base or not, no one wants to face him."

In the fourth inning, the Reds responded against Yankees starter Allan Winans, with De La Cruz hitting a ball to the center field wall. Matt McLain raced home from first, while De La Cruz slid into third at a speed of 30.5 feet per second, hitting a two-run triple.

Spencer Steer’s sacrifice fly to left field brought De La Cruz home—who stumbled but slid into home plate—scoring the go-ahead run.

"I truly love this moment. When he’s dirty, we’re unstoppable," said manager Terry Francona, "he could even throw up on the field."

"I’m happy when I’m dirty; it means I’ve done something," De La Cruz admitted.

In the game against the Cardinals two days ago, De La Cruz hit a triple but vomited from overheating before hitting a home run.

"I need to pay attention to my hydration," he explained, "overhydration caused this situation."

After De La Cruz scored, Gavin Lux hit a home run to right field, changing the score to 3-1.

In the fifth inning, with one out and the bases loaded, De La Cruz hit a two-run single to right field, bringing in Jake Fraley for an insurance run. In his first at-bat of the eighth inning against lefty Tim Hill, he hit a ball into right field for his 18th home run of the season (leading the team).

The 23-year-old De La Cruz has a batting line of .333/.416/.747 over his last 27 games (99 at-bats, 33 hits), with 10 home runs and 29 runs scored. Since May 24, his .747 slugging percentage ranks second in the majors, only behind Cal Raleigh's .762.

"Even when he’s not at his best, he can change the game in an instant," Lux pointed out, "his talent is unmatched in the league. He no longer chases bad pitches blindly and shows patience in drawing walks. Opponents will intentionally avoid him. He’s a key player to watch when facing the Reds."

In the first inning with two outs, Judge launched a ball from Nick Lodolo into the upper deck of left field to score first. The Reds' starter threw 94 pitches (65 strikes) over 4.1 innings before leaving the game. In the fifth inning, with runners on first and third and one out, Scott Barlow got Judge to fly out and struck out Stanton to end the inning. Yankees batters went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

"Especially against a powerful lineup like this, getting on base is inevitable," Barlow analyzed, "but minimizing damage is crucial. Avoiding excessive corner pitches and maintaining an offensive mindset creates the best opportunities."

The Reds have won 11 of their last 16 games (record of 41-38), facing many teams with better records (including the 45-33 Yankees). On the same day, the team called up top prospect Chase Burns for his major league debut (only 13 career starts) and designated Jeimer Candelario for assignment (taking on a $22.5 million loss).

"Everyone believes he can help us win immediately," Lux said, "which reflects the trust from the management—we are confident this roster has the ability to win, and this move further strengthens that belief."