Elly De La Cruz shines with a homer, but Reds pitching collapses again in an 11-5 loss to the Tigers on June 14. See how the game unraveled in Detroit.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a frustrating case of déjà vu for Reds fans. For the second night in a row, the offense showed life, led by a spectacular performance from Elly De La Cruz, but it was all for naught as the pitching staff once again imploded. The final score from a rainy Detroit: an 11-5 loss to the Tigers that felt all too familiar.
For the second consecutive game, Reds pitching allowed 11 runs, raising serious concerns about the staff's ability to contain opposing offenses.
The series opener started with a slight rain delay and went downhill from there. Starter Nick Martinez (4-7) was in trouble from the jump, giving up a leadoff homer to Gleyber Torres. While the Reds' offense, including a solo shot from TJ Friedl in the third, tried to keep pace, the Tigers blew the game wide open in the sixth. Martinez was chased, and the bullpen duo of Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers couldn't stop the bleeding, surrendering a four-run inning highlighted by Riley Greene's bases-clearing three-run double. A three-run rally in the ninth provided a glimmer of hope but ultimately wasn't enough to overcome the massive deficit.
The brightest spot in a bleak night was, without a doubt, Elly De La Cruz. The superstar shortstop was a one-man wrecking crew, recording his first three-hit game since March with a 3-for-5 performance. He launched his 14th homer of the season, added a double, drove in two runs, and scored twice. His June has been electric, as he's now tallied seven extra-base hits and three steals in just 11 games this month. He continues to be the engine of this offense, a dynamic force every time he steps to the plate.
One bad game is an anomaly. Two is a trend. Allowing 11 runs in back-to-back contests is a five-alarm fire. The starting pitching and the bullpen are both struggling to find consistency, putting immense pressure on the offense to be perfect. Friday's loss was a team effort in the worst way, with neither the starter nor the key relievers able to contain the Tigers' bats when it mattered most. This is the single biggest issue facing the team, and there are no easy answers on the current roster.
As the Reds look to salvage the series in Detroit, all eyes will be on the mound. Can the starter on Saturday provide a quality outing and give the team a chance? While there were no roster moves made, the continued struggles could force management's hand. The future looks bright with arms like Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder developing in the minors, but for now, the Reds need the players in the big league clubhouse to turn this troubling trend around, and fast.
