Cincinnati Reds at Tampa Bay Rays

Elly De La Cruz hits 2 of Reds' 5 home runs in 12-6 victory over Rays

De La Cruz, who went 3 for 6 with five RBI, hit a two-run homer to begin the scoring in the first inning and he added a solo shot in the ninth for his eighth of the season to make it 12-2. It was De La Cruz’s sixth career multihomer game, passing Pete Rose for the most in Reds history by a switch-hitter.

Stewart drove in two runs on a single to center field in the sixth for a 9-0 lead and he added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. He's tied with Houston's Yordan Alvarez for the major league lead with 24 RBI.

Cincinnati (16-8) has won five straight for its best start after 24 games since the 2006 team began 17-7. The Reds are eight games over .500 for the first time since early August of 2023.

Chase Burns (2-1) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings, allowing only two runs on Jonathan Aranda’s homer in the sixth. The Reds had not allowed a home run in their previous six games.

Tampa Bay starter Steven Matz (3-1) only lasted three innings after permitting four runs.

Ke’Bryan Hayes, Dane Myers and Spencer Steer each hit a solo home run in the first five innings for Cincinnati. Myers finished with four runs scored.

Hayes, who entered 4 for 56, drove a shot over the wall in right field for his first extra-base hit of the season and Myers followed with his first home run for the Reds.

The Rays have lost four of their last five games.

Up next Cincinnati goes for a series sweep on Wednesday with LHP Brandon Williamson on the mound against Tampa Bay RHP Nick Martinez.

How can I watch Cincinnati Reds vs. Tampa Bay Rays?

• TV Channel: Reds at Rays 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.TV.
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