Wed Jun 25 00:40:00 UTC 2025: **De La Cruz Shines as Reds Defeat Yankees, 6-1**
**CINCINNATI** – Elly De La Cruz fueled the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday night, overshadowing a historic lineup featuring four former MVP Award winners. De La Cruz, the Reds’ dynamic shortstop, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, falling just a double shy of a cycle on the second anniversary of achieving that feat against the Braves.
The Yankees’ lineup, boasting Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton, marked the first time since 1978 that a team visiting Cincinnati featured four former MVPs. However, it was De La Cruz who stole the show.
Judge opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first, but the Reds responded in the fourth. De La Cruz ignited a three-run rally with an RBI triple, scoring Matt McLain from first base. He slid headfirst into third. He then scored on a sacrifice fly. Gavin Lux followed with a solo homer, giving the Reds a 3-1 lead.
De La Cruz extended the lead with an RBI single in the fifth and capped off his stellar performance with a solo home run in the eighth, his 18th of the season.
“He can do everything,” said Judge of De La Cruz. “He can hit, he can throw, he’s got the wheels, he’s got the power – we saw it tonight. He’s a total package.”
Reds manager Terry Francona praised De La Cruz’s passionate play, joking about his willingness to get dirty on the field. De La Cruz, known for his all-out effort, has been on a tear, slashing .333/.416/.747 with 10 home runs and 29 runs scored in his last 27 games.
The Reds’ victory marks their 11th in the last 16 games, improving their record to 41-38. Earlier in the day, the team signaled their commitment to winning now by calling up top prospect Chase Burns for his MLB debut and designating Jeimer Candelario for assignment.
First Piper 