Elly De La Cruz shines with career-high seven RBIs in Reds' rout

In a dominating performance on April 1, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds secured a victory against the Texas Rangers with a score of 14-3. The game was held at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. This marked a significant moment for Reds' star Elly De La Cruz, who stood out by achieving a career-high of seven RBIs in the game. He accomplished this feat by hitting two home runs, along with a double and a single, over five at-bats, significantly boosting his batting average. The Reds took an early lead in the first inning, with Matt McLain hitting a two-run home run followed by an RBI double from Gavin Lux, bringing the score to 3-0. De La Cruz's performances included a three-run homer and another two-run homer later in the game, underscoring his powerful hitting, which had been influenced by a new bat he was using in this season. The Reds' starting pitcher, Brady Singer, also made headlines during this match, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only one hit, leading Cincinnati to a decisive win. The victory was notably his Cincinnati debut after being acquired from the Kansas City Royals. He struck out eight batters and walked two during his performance, marking a historical moment as he became the first Reds pitcher to achieve this feat in a debut since the legend Tom Seaver in 1977. On the opposing team, the Rangers struggled throughout the game, with their rookie pitcher Kumar Rocker managing to allow six earned runs over three innings before being replaced. The Reds exhibited an overwhelming offensive onslaught, batting around the order and scoring multiple runs, including a significant lead of 12-0 by the sixth inning. With 14 runs scored, it was noted as the team's highest run total since a similar lopsided score against St. Louis in September 2023. Despite the loss, the Rangers saw a glimpse of hope when veteran player Jake Burger hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, though it was too late to affect the outcome of the game. Elly De La Cruz's powerful showing elevated his hitting stats early in the season, bringing his average from .273 to .438 after this game. He has shown great promise, matching his two home runs and seven RBIs performance to his previous season's excellent statistics, where he hit 25 home runs and stole an MLB-best 67 bases. This performance not only energized his team but also excited fans, as it suggests a potentially successful season ahead for both De La Cruz and the Reds, continuing to build upon their early-season momentum as they look to add more wins in the upcoming games.