Elly De La Cruz Showcases Impressive Athleticism, Stealing 2nd, 3rd, and Home for the Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds player Elly De La Cruz steals second, third, and home in same inning, helping Reds beat Milwaukee Brewers 8-5.

In a thrilling game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz made history by becoming the first Reds player since 1919 to steal second, third, and home in the same inning. De La Cruz's incredible performance helped lead the Reds to an 8-5 victory.

The game was tied 5-5 in the seventh inning when De La Cruz stepped up to the plate. With two outs, he hit an RBI single off Brewers reliever Elvis Peguero to break the tie. But De La Cruz wasn't done there. On the next pitch, he stole second base without a throw. And on the pitch after that, he swiped third base, again without a throw.

Peguero, clearly rattled by De La Cruz's speed and base-stealing prowess, caught the ball from catcher William Contreras and walked slowly back to the mound with his back turned. De La Cruz took advantage of the situation, putting his helmet back on and walking down the third-base line before breaking into a sprint. He easily beat Peguero's rushed throw to home plate, scoring the go-ahead run.

De La Cruz celebrated his historic achievement by leaping in jubilation and skipping toward the dugout, high-fiving his teammates along the way. Peguero, on the other hand, was booed off the field by disappointed Brewers fans.

De La Cruz's feat is incredibly rare. He became only the second player since the expansion era started in 1961 to steal three bases in a single plate appearance. The last player to steal all three bases in the same inning was the Miami Marlins' Jon Berti in 2020.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell admitted that his team wasn't aware enough and made mistakes that allowed De La Cruz to make history. Reds manager David Bell praised De La Cruz's speed and heads-up play, calling it a joy to watch.

The Reds, who have been surging since De La Cruz was called up from the minors on June 6, improved their record to 23-7 since then. They now hold a two-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central and have the most come-from-behind wins in the major leagues with 33.

De La Cruz's stolen base total now stands at 16 in just 30 games. He went 2-for-5 in the game, raising his batting average to an impressive .328. The only blemish on his performance was a nonchalant toss to second for the final out, but it withstood a replay challenge.

The Reds also received strong pitching performances from Lucas Sims, who threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, and All-Star Alexis Diaz, who recorded his 26th save in 27 chances.

On the Brewers' side, Willy Adames hit two home runs, while Christian Yelich extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Overall, it was a thrilling game that showcased the incredible talent and speed of Elly De La Cruz. His historic base-stealing performance helped lead the Reds to victory and solidify their position atop the NL Central.

Share With Others