WASHINGTON — It was fitting for the occasion of July 4th: Two struggling Reds hitters declared independence from their slumps, and a club that often features a different hitter leading the way has nearly everyone involved.
“Today everyone was. He was ill. Our squad was clicking,” India said.
Cincinnati (47-39) has won six of its past seven games and 18 of its last 22.
In the first half against Patrick Corbin lefty, Matt McClain sought a double downfield. After jumping off second while India was batting, he scored the first run of the game with an RBI single. Steer dipped a hit between three defenders in short left field to add a second run.
“You never know for sure, it’s 11 o’clock in the morning [morning] “The way we came out early in that game defined our basic style of play,” said Reds coach David Bell.
With one out in the third inning, Senzel hit Corbin’s 2-1 pitch to left for a three-run homer and a 5-0 lead. With prospects growing, Senzel’s playing time has been reduced in recent weeks. He was playing right field in his first start since June 26 in Baltimore.
India added solo homers to position in the fourth and sixth innings, having hit 5 for 43 (. 116) with a grand slam over his previous 12 matches.
“At the end of the day, results don’t matter. India said all I care about is winning. As long as my team wins, I don’t care much about what I do. I just want to help win in any way. I just prepare every day as if it’s my last match. I make sure That I’m mentally ready, physically ready and giving my all that day.”
De la Cruz, who hits with 107 as a right-handed batter on the season and was 6-for-39 overall with 16 strikeouts in his past nine games, collected four solo hits with a sacrifice fly.
“It was massive today,” said de la Cruz via translator Jorge Merlos. “I’m happy with the results today, and I’m a right-handed hitter. It went well for us. I hope it continues.”
Three of De La Cruz’s hits came from the right side of the plate against Corbin. After hitting the lead in the third inning, he stole second base with ease—one of the team’s heavy hits of the day.
Bale expected the 21-year-old De la Cruz to gain confidence on the right side.
“It was a great day at the plate, on the bases, at third base,” said Bell. An important day for him. That should get him to go.”
De la Cruz became only the second major league player aged 21 or younger since 1950, and the first since Luis Rivas of Minnesota (2000-01), to hit two four-hit games over his first 25 games.
In his first major league appearance since 2018, rookie pitcher Brett Kennedy worked over five innings in his Reds debut and allowed four runs on five hits and walked two with three strikeouts.
Kennedy gave up only two doubles to CJ Abrams in the first four innings until Derek Hill hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the sixth, after Kennedy walked the first batter and gave up one out, reliever Fernando Cruz allowed two inherited runners to score to make it a three-run game.
“For me,” Kennedy said, “we had an early lead, and it was just throwing batters and trusting the defense. If you give up the run, you just tie the team up and get it back and let them swing.”
Perhaps because they weren’t expected to compete this season, or because of their lack of position, none of the Reds’ offensive leaders this season — India, McLean, Steer, or de la Cruz — were invited to join Alexis Diaz in the All-Star Game.
“I’m not worried about what people think of us. At the end of the day, we both enjoy playing the game we love, playing with heart, playing with passion,” India said. “We have one goal in mind: to reach the end and win the prize. bell.”
