Los Angeles Dodgers design hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a strike during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024.
17:46 JST, May 17, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elly De La Cruz went 4-for-4 with a career-high four stolen bases and scored three times in the Cincinnati Reds’ 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
Nick Martinez (1-2) won in relief, allowing one hit in five shutout innings and striking out four, as the Reds used seven pitchers in a bullpen game.
Cincinnati broke the Dodgers’ franchise record of 22 straight games allowing four runs or fewer. Los Angeles lost back-to-back games for the first time since April 19-20 and has lost four of seven overall.
Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout on his first bobblehead night of the season. Only 40,000 fans got a bobblehead among the sold-out crowd of 53,527 – the largest in the Majors this season and at Dodger Stadium since September 20, 2019.
“Overall, a very nice setting to have a lot of fans in the stands,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I am very grateful that they all came tonight.”
De La Cruz tied his career high in hits, reaching base five times with three singles, a double and a walk. His four steals were the most by a player against the Dodgers since Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth had that many on May 12, 2009.
“I like playing here. I feel comfortable because this is my city,” De La Cruz said with a laugh.
The speedy De La Cruz was eventually thrown out by catcher Austin Barnes at second base on a delayed steal that ended the seventh. The 22-year-old short stop has 30 steals to his name this season. Conner Capel had the Reds’ other stolen base of the game.
“Every time he steps on the field, for an at-bat, on the basepaths, I feel like we’re witnessing something special,” Martinez said of De La Cruz. “His strength plays into every aspect of the game.”
De La Cruz only said hello to Ohtani, who was impressed by the youngster.
“He’s a really good player,” Ohtani said. “And very impressive performances.”
Will Benson hit a leadoff homer against Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow (6-2). Tyler Stephenson drove in two runs, including an RBI single with two outs in the third, making it 3-0.
