The starting pitchers in this game both had things rolling for the first six innings, but the two clubs combined to score nine runs in the 7th inning to push both out of the game, with the highlight being an Elly De La Cruz grand slam. Those four runs would be the difference in the game as the Cincinnati Reds picked up the win over the Minnesota Twins to being their series.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (72-77) |
8 | 9 | 0 |
| Minnesota Twins (78-69) | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| W: Aguiar (2-0) L: Ober (12-7) |
|||
| Box Score | Game Thread | |||
TJ Friedl got things going for the Reds in the top of the 2nd inning with a solo home run to put his team up 1-0. Minnesota would put pressure on Julian Aguiar in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single and a 2-out hit batter, but Aguiar would get out of the jam with a groundout to end the inning. Both starting pitchers would lock in from there until the 5th inning when Byron Buxton hit a leadoff home run to tie the game up.
That’s where the game remained until the 7th. Cincinnati would put together a rally against Bailey Ober. Spencer Steer led off with a triple and then scored on a safety squeeze by TJ Friedl. He would then score on a double from Ty France to make it 3-1. A walk would follow before Ober would strike out the next two batters. At that point the Twins pulled their starter to bring in Jorge Alcala. He walked Jonathan India to load the bases. That brought Elly De La Cruz to the plate and on the first pitch he saw he hit a grand slam to put the Reds up 7-1.
The Reds, like the Twins before them, sent their starter back out for the 7th inning and things didn’t go as they would have hoped for. Julian Aguiar walked the first hitter and gave up a single to the next batter. He would get a force out at second base on the next play, but then Cincinnati went to their bullpen and brought in Buck Farmer. Things didn’t get much better for him as he allowed two singles that brought in three runs and the Twins made it 7-4 before the Reds went to the bullpen for a second time in the inning to bring in Tony Santillan. He would strand a runner on second base and hold onto the Reds 3-run lead.
Spencer Steer would lead off the 8th inning with a double and then he came around to score on a single by TJ Friedl to extend Cincinnati’s lead to 8-4. In the bottom of the inning the Reds turned to Emilio Pagan and he retired Minnesota in order. Alexis Diaz then took over in the 9th inning and he did the same thing to close the game out as the Reds took game one of the 3-game series.
Key Moment of the Game
The 7th inning grand slam by Elly De La Cruz.
Notes Worth Noting
Elly De La Cruz had not hit a grand slam prior to Friday night. He had been 5-16 (.313) in his career with the bases loaded entering the game.
TJ Friedl had a 3-hit, 3-RBI night. Spencer Steer and Jonathan India both picked up two hits on the day.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Minnesota Twins
Saturday September 14th, 7:10pm ET
Nick Martinez (8-6, 3.46 ERA) vs Simeon Woods-Richardson (5-4, 3.96 ERA)
The post Elly De La Cruz grand slam fuels Reds 8-4 win over the Twins appeared first on Redleg Nation.