Elly De La Cruz hit his 18th homer, but the Reds fell to the Padres 6-3 on June 27. See how Fernando Tatis Jr.'s power surge decided the series opener.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night at Great American Ball Park, another frustrating result. The Cincinnati Reds fell to the San Diego Padres 6-3 in the series opener, extending their losing streak to two games. While the loss stings, the electric crack of Elly De La Cruz's bat provided a familiar, thrilling silver lining, as the superstar shortstop launched his team-leading 18th home run of the season.
Elly De La Cruz's 18th home run of the season now leads the team, a silver lining in a tough stretch for the Reds.
The Friday night matchup was decided early, largely thanks to Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr., whose two-run homer in the third inning set the tone. Reds starter Nick Martinez couldn't find his groove, battling through 5 innings while surrendering 5 runs on 8 hits. It was a tough outing for the veteran, who fell to 4-8 on the season. While the Reds bullpen was solid, allowing just one run over the final four frames, the damage was already done against Padres ace Dylan Cease, who picked up the win.
If there's one constant source of excitement, it's Elly De La Cruz. His solo shot in the fifth inning was a no-doubter, and he finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs, bringing his season total to 55. His 18th homer officially puts him atop the team leaderboard, a remarkable feat that underscores his development into a true power threat. Alongside Elly, TJ Friedl chipped in with two hits and a steal, but the offense couldn't string enough together to mount a comeback.
With Hunter Greene still on the IL nursing a groin/back issue, the rotation is being tested. While Martinez struggled tonight, fans are still buzzing about the electrifying MLB debut of Chase Burns earlier this week. The rookie right-hander fanned eight Yankees and became only the second Reds pitcher since 1920 to strike out the side in his first-ever inning. Burns is expected to hold Greene's spot, providing a much-needed injection of high-octane talent into a staff that needs it.
The Reds' current struggles can't be discussed without mentioning the crowded injured list. Beyond Greene, the team is still without key contributors like Noelvi Marte (oblique), Austin Hays (foot), and Jake Fraley (shoulder), not to mention top pitching prospect Rhett Lowder (forearm). With no new roster moves announced, the Reds are in a holding pattern, needing the current squad to find a way to win while they wait for their teammates to get healthy.
The loss drops the Reds to 42-39, and the path forward doesn't get any easier. They'll need to regroup quickly to salvage the series against the Padres this weekend and snap this losing skid. The key will be getting more consistent starting pitching and finding offensive production beyond Elly's heroics. It's a tough stretch, but with young talent like Chase Burns stepping up, there's still a reason to watch every pitch.
