MLB Roundup: Cycle Helps Reds Run Win Streak to 12

Austin Riley (27) of the Atlanta Braves slides in to score while beating the tag of Luke Maile (22) of the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on April 12, 2023. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Rookie phenom Elly De La Cruz recorded Cincinnati’s first cycle in 34 years as the host Reds rallied from five runs down to tie their modern-era franchise record with a 12th straight win, defeating the Atlanta Braves 11–10 on Friday.

Cincinnati matched its 1957 and 1939 clubs for the longest single-season winning streak since 1900.

De La Cruz again electrified the sellout crowd at Great American Ball Park as he had a key two-run homer to spark the early rally and finished off his cycle with a triple in the sixth inning. Joey Votto belted a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot off reliever Collin McHugh (3–1) in the Reds’ four-run fifth. Cincinnati erased deficits of 5–0 and 7–5.

Reliever Alex Young (3–0) earned his third win in as many appearances this week. Alexis Diaz posted his 21st save in as many chances. Matt Olson homered twice for the Braves, who had their second eight-game win streak this season snapped. Reliever Collin McHugh (3–1) took the loss.

Dodgers 3, Astros 2

Mookie Betts hit a leadoff home run for the 43rd time in his career and rookie Emmet Sheehan went six strong innings as Los Angeles got the best of visiting Houston in the opener of a three-game series.

Rookie Michael Busch had an RBI double for the Dodgers in a matchup between 2017 World Series participants. The Astros won the title in seven games that year before their championship came under a cloud after a cheating scandal was exposed.

James Outman had three hits and Sheehan (1–0) gave up two runs on three hits en route to his first major league win. Mauricio Dubon and Kyle Tucker hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning for the Astros, and rookie J.P. France (2–3) gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings.

Rays 11, Royals 3

Jose Siri drove in four runs, Zach Eflin remained spotless at home and Tampa Bay thrashed Kansas City in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Siri went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs. Eflin (9-3) limited the Royals to three runs and seven hits over six innings. He improved to 8–0 with a 2.17 ERA through eight home starts this year.

Salvador Perez swatted a two-run homer and Nick Pratto hit a solo shot for the Royals. Zack Greinke (1–8) allowed seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Phillies 5, Mets 1

Trea Turner hit a two-run single, Brandon Marsh added three hits and an RBI and host Philadelphia defeated New York for its 14th victory in 18 games.

Bryce Harper had an RBI single before being ejected in the seventh inning. The Phillies’ Taijuan Walker (8–3) won his fourth consecutive start, tossing six innings of one-run ball.

Brandon Nimmo hit a solo home run for the Mets, who dropped their third in a row. Kodai Senga (6–5) allowed four runs, two earned, in 5 1/3 innings.

Rangers 4, Yankees 2 (10 innings)

Adolis Garcia hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer on the first pitch of the 10th inning as visiting Texas beat New York.

Joe Barlow (1–0) stranded Anthony Rizzo on base in the ninth to set up Garcia’s clutch hit. Will Smith delivered a 1-2-3 10th inning for his 14th save in 15 chances as the Rangers earned their fifth win in six games.

Michael King (1–4) served up Garcia’s homer. Anthony Rizzo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had two hits and a run for the Yankees, who are 6-10 since losing Aaron Judge to a bruised right toe.

Mariners 13, Orioles 1

Logan Gilbert allowed just a run on two hits over seven innings and was the beneficiary of a 17-hit attack as Seattle routed host Baltimore.

Tom Murphy and Teoscar Hernandez homered for the Mariners, who won their second in a row. Ty France, Eugenio Suarez and Hernandez each had three hits for Seattle. Gilbert (5–4) walked one and struck out five.

Anthony Santander went deep for the Orioles, who have lost two straight. Kyle Gibson (8–5) gave up five runs on seven hits in three innings.

Twins 4, Tigers 1

Kenta Maeda pitched five scoreless innings for his first victory in two seasons, Max Kepler hit a two-run homer and Minnesota topped host Detroit.

Maeda (1–4), who missed last season after Tommy John surgery, was activated off the injured list prior to the contest. He was out for the past two months with a triceps injury. Jhoan Duran handled the ninth inning for his 10th save as Minnesota’s pitchers recorded 16 strikeouts. Royce Lewis added a solo homer.

Andy Ibanez had two hits and scored Detroit’s lone run. Tigers starter Joey Wentz (1-8) gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings.

Pirates 3, Marlins 1

Carlos Santana stroked a two-out, tiebreaking single in the ninth inning as Pittsburgh snapped a 10-game losing streak by rallying to beat Miami.

The Pirates were down 1-0 entering the ninth inning before getting the best of Marlins closer A.J. Puk (3–2), who had been successful on 10 of his 11 save chances. Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez went 3-for-4 to raise his major-league-leading batting average to .402.

Miami starter Jesus Luzardo was left with a no-decision despite logging nine strikeouts and just one walk over seven scoreless innings.

Padres 13, Nationals 3

Joe Musgrove allowed just one run while going seven innings for the first time this season as San Diego defeated visiting Washington.

Musgrove (6–2) scattered six hits and struck out seven without issuing a walk. Ha-Seong Kim, Xander Bogaerts and Juan Soto each homered and drove in three runs for the Padres, who have amassed 23 runs and 26 hits over the past two games.

Michael Chavis homered for the Nationals, who have lost 15 of the past 18 games. Patrick Corbin (4–9) gave up seven runs on seven hits in five innings.

Giants 8, Diamondbacks 5

Michael Conforto stroked a pair of two-run doubles, Patrick Bailey smacked a two-run home run and San Francisco beat visiting Arizona.

Logan Webb (7–6) allowed four runs (three earned) in seven innings, helping the Giants to their 11th win in 12 games. Camilo Doval worked a scoreless ninth for his 21st save.

Corbin Carroll had a double and a single for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the third time in eight games. Zach Davies (1–4) was tagged for six runs on six hits in four-plus innings.

Athletics 5, Blue Jays 4

Shea Langeliers hit the go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning and Oakland won at Toronto to snap an eight-game losing streak.

JJ Bleday hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs for the Athletics. Langeliers also had an RBI single. Oakland’s Lucas Erceg (2–0) struck out the side in the eighth to get the win, and Trevor May earned his fourth save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run for Toronto, his first homer of the season at home. Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (3–3) took over in the ninth. George Springer made a superb catch in right to start the inning, but Langeliers followed with his ninth homer of the season.

Brewers 7, Guardians 1

Willy Adames hit two home runs to highlight a four-hit, five-RBI performance and Wade Miley tossed six scoreless innings to lift Milwaukee over host Cleveland.

Entering the contest mired in a 7-for-42 (.167) slump, Adames ripped an RBI single in the first inning, a three-run homer in the sixth and a solo homer in the ninth. Miley (5–2) scattered three hits and struck out three without walking a batter to win his second straight start.

Jose Ramirez homered for the Guardians, who saw their season-high-tying, four-game winning streak end. Shane Bieber (5–5) gave up four runs in five innings.

Red Sox 3, White Sox 1

Brayan Bello turned in a strong start and Rafael Devers hit a two-run homer as Boston ended a two-game losing streak by beating host Chicago.

Devers broke a 1-1 tie with his 18th home run of the season in the fourth inning. Bello (5–4) limited the White Sox to a run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

White Sox starter Lucas Giolito (5–5) allowed three runs (one earned) and struck out 10 in six innings. Chicago’s run came on Tim Anderson’s sacrifice fly.

Rockies 7, Angels 4

Elias Diaz belted a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning and Colorado ended an eight-game losing streak by beating Los Angeles in Denver.

Diaz, Elehuris Montero and Coco Montes each had three hits and Jurickson Profar also homered for Colorado. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout homered for the Angels, who lost their third straight game after winning 11 of their previous 14.

Reliever Pierce Johnson (1–3) struck out Ohtani with two on and two outs to end the top of the eighth. Justin Lawrence fanned two in a perfect ninth for his third save. Losing pitcher Sam Bachman (1–1) let two runners reach in the Rockies’ eighth inning, and Diaz went deep against Chris Devenski.