Reds fall to Cardinals 6-5 on June 21, 2025, despite Elly De La Cruz's heroics. Yohel Pozo's walk-off single ends the 11-inning thriller. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that had all the twists and turns of a classic divisional rivalry, the Cincinnati Reds were left on the wrong side of a walk-off celebration. Despite a ninth-inning rally and a brilliant performance from Elly De La Cruz, the Reds fell 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium after Yohel Pozo delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th.
Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, including a game-tying single in the 9th and a highlight-reel falling catch.
The game felt like a heavyweight bout from the start. The Reds found themselves in an early 2-0 hole after starter Brent Suter surrendered a first-inning two-run homer to Alec Burleson. But Cincinnati clawed its way back, with Spencer Steer contributing two hits and scoring a key run. The game's defining moment came in the top of the ninth when, facing a one-run deficit, Elly De La Cruz laced a single to tie the game and send it to extras. The back-and-forth affair finally concluded in the 11th when Yohel Pozo's two-out single ended the marathon and sent the Reds home with a bitter loss.
If there was one silver lining on a cloudy night, it was the continued brilliance of Elly De La Cruz. The Reds' shortstop was the team's engine, driving in two crucial runs and showcasing his five-tool talent. His game-tying hit in the ninth was pure clutch, and he added a spectacular falling catch in the field that saved at least one run. Now batting .266, De La Cruz isn't just a bright spot; he's the heart of this Reds team, providing a spark even in the toughest of losses.
The extra-inning affair put immense pressure on the Reds' bullpen, which was called upon for 5.2 innings of high-leverage work. The unit battled valiantly, with arms like Sonny Gray coming in for a clutch strikeout to strand a runner on third and keep the game alive. However, the heavy workload eventually took its toll. While the bullpen allowed only two earned runs over that long stretch, the final one was the dagger, a reminder of how thin the margins are in these extended games.
With the team now hovering just above .500, every game feels magnified. While no roster moves were made today, the front office is undoubtedly feeling the pressure as the trade deadline inches closer. The good news is that help is on the way from within. The farm system remains a beacon of hope, with pitchers Chase Burns and Chase Petty turning heads and hitters like Alfredo Duno and Tyson Lewis showing promise. The organization is also eagerly awaiting the return of top prospect Rhett Lowder, whose arm could provide a major boost to the rotation down the stretch.
It's a gut-punch loss, no doubt about it, especially to a rival like the Cardinals. Dropping to 39-38 stings, but the Reds have a chance to bounce back tomorrow and salvage a crucial series win. The fight they showed tonight, led by their young superstar, proves they won't go down easy. Now, they just need to find a way to turn these nail-biters into wins.
