Elly De La Cruz Powers Reds Despite Illness in Loss to Cardinals

Elly De La Cruz put on a show in St. Louis, battling through a scorching summer afternoon. He looked determined, even as he dealt with illness during the game.

The Cincinnati Reds’ rising star reminded everyone why he’s one of the most electrifying young players out there. The game ended with a gut-wrenching 6-5 loss in extra innings to the Cardinals, but De La Cruz’s performance was impossible to ignore.

De La Cruz Battles Illness and a Slump to Shine

Before the game even got wild, De La Cruz faced two big hurdles: he was sick mid-game and stuck in a 1-for-15 slump. The Reds’ trainers checked him out in the fourth inning, but he decided to keep playing.

Key Hits That Turned the Tide—Temporarily

De La Cruz wasted no time making something happen. In the third, with two outs and the Reds needing a jolt, he ripped a triple off Sonny Gray and snapped his slump.

That hit fired up the Cincinnati dugout. In the seventh, facing Steven Matz, De La Cruz crushed a 435-foot, two-run homer that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead and a burst of hope.

Reds Fight Hard in a Bullpen Game

The Reds found themselves in a fierce battle. Manager Terry Francona turned the game into a bullpen showcase and used eight pitchers.

Cincinnati’s relievers, to their credit, held the Cardinals hitless from the third through the seventh. That’s not something you see every day.

Additional Contributions from Steer and Benson

Spencer Steer and Will Benson tried to carry the momentum. In the eighth, Steer lined a triple and scored on Benson’s sacrifice fly, stretching the Reds’ lead for a moment.

The Reds looked like they might snap their two-game skid right there.

A Cardinals Comeback That Stunned

The Cardinals, though, just wouldn’t quit. In the eighth, they rallied for two runs to tie it at 5-5.

Nolan Arenado then sent Busch Stadium into a frenzy in the ninth, blasting a solo homer and forcing extras.

Pozo Plays Hero in Extras

In the 10th, St. Louis rookie Yohel Pozo stepped up. He singled home Jordan Walker, notching his first career walk-off hit in just his 11th MLB game.

That was the dagger. The Cardinals celebrated a wild comeback.

De La Cruz’s Encouraging Signs

For Reds fans, De La Cruz’s breakout was the big silver lining. He fought through illness, snapped out of a slump, and came through in the clutch.

At just 21, he’s starting to look like the cornerstone Cincinnati needs—maybe even sooner than expected.

Looking Ahead

If the Reds want to turn things around, they’ll need more efforts like De La Cruz’s. They’re close to contention, but finding consistency remains the real test.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, keep showing how dangerous they are late in games. They’re never an easy out, especially when things get tight.

Final Thoughts

Elly De La Cruz didn’t get the win for the Reds, but his performance stood out. That’s the kind of game people talk about for a long time, especially when you’re watching a young player come into his own.

Baseball really has a way of serving up stories of perseverance and passion. Even with the heat cranking in St. Louis, this matchup brought some real magic for anyone who loves the game.

 
Here is the source article for this story: ‘We fought’: Elly shakes off illness, but Reds slip after sick 435-foot HR