ATLANTA (AP) — Spencer Steer drove in three runs with three extra-base hits, Elly De La Cruz also had three hits, including a home run, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 9-4 on Wednesday.
The second game of a scheduled split doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Sept. 9.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Spencer Steer drove in three runs with three extra-base hits, Elly De La Cruz also had three hits, including a home run, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 9-4 on Wednesday.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz shows off his Nike Air Jordan turf shoes before the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sam Moll throws in the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz swings and misses in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Umpire Marvin Hudson, left, chats with Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy, right, in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sam Moll pitches in the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Justin Wilson throws in the ninth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan throws in the eighth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan throws in the eighth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Jesse Chavez throws in the ninth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes has his hands and clove checked by the umpire in the third inning of the first baseball game of a against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds Elly De La Cruz swings and misses in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches a pitch in the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes throws in the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, left, discusses the last play with Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna, right, in the first inning of the first baseball game, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) slides into second base as Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) attempts to tag him in the first inning of the first baseball game, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Jake Fraley rounds second base after hitting a home run in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer (7) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Steer drove in a run with a first-inning triple off Allan Winans (0-2) and had a two-run double in the fourth. Steer added another double and scored two runs. Jake Fraley also had three hits, including a two-run homer in the first.
Cincinnati won both games of the shortened series.
“I think we’re just finding a way to play good baseball against good teams,” Steer said. “I think it’s as simple as that.”
Steer said the Reds, who had 12 hits, were “spraying line drives all over the field.”
Winans gave up seven runs in only 2 2/3 innings in Atlanta's fourth consecutive loss. The Braves may look to boost their depleted rotation before the July 30 trade deadline.
Atlanta has lost two prominent starting pitchers to injuries. All-Star left-hander Max Fried was added to the 15-day injured list with forearm neuritis, a nerve inflammation, on Sunday. Ace right-hander Spencer Strider had season-ending Tommy John surgery in April.
Braves All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies is expected to miss about eight weeks with a fractured left wrist. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. was lost with a season-ending knee injury in May, and Michael Harris II has been on the injured list since June 15 with a hamstring injury.
With the losses and injuries mounting, the Braves, who lead the NL wild-card standings, held a players-only meeting on Tuesday.
“It's a hard game,” center fielder Jarred Kelenic said. “These stretches happen. ... It's pretty easy to get down and get negative. I feel the talent we have in our clubhouse is second to none and we have our fair share of leaders in the clubhouse to keep us on the right track.”
The Braves left the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings and stranded 11 runners overall.
Reds right-hander Frankie Montas allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. Montas loaded the bases with one-out walks to Orlando Arcia and Zack Short in the fifth. Left-hander Sam Moll (2-1) struck out Kelenic and Nacho Alvarez Jr. to end the inning.
Cincinnati had three stolen bases, including two by De La Cruz, who leads the majors with 51.
Tuesday night's game was postponed by rain, forcing a second game to be added to Wednesday's schedule. The forecast called for more rain Wednesday night, leading to the decision to postpone the second game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: Winans was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and LHP Dylan Dodd was optioned to Gwinnett. ... Harris (left hamstring strain) worked out on the field and may be moving closer to a rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Reds: Following a day off on Thursday, LHP Nick Lodolo (8-3, 3.51 ERA) is scheduled to start when Cincinnati opens a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Braves: LHP Chris Sale (13-3, 2.70) was scheduled to start Wednesday night and now will be available on Thursday, when they open a four-game series at New York. The Mets list RHP Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58) as their starter.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) signs autographs before the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz shows off his Nike Air Jordan turf shoes before the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sam Moll throws in the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz swings and misses in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Umpire Marvin Hudson, left, chats with Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy, right, in the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sam Moll pitches in the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Justin Wilson throws in the ninth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan throws in the eighth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan throws in the eighth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Jesse Chavez throws in the ninth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes has his hands and clove checked by the umpire in the third inning of the first baseball game of a against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds Elly De La Cruz swings and misses in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches a pitch in the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes throws in the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, left, discusses the last play with Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna, right, in the first inning of the first baseball game, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) slides into second base as Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) attempts to tag him in the first inning of the first baseball game, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds' Jake Fraley rounds second base after hitting a home run in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer (7) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
