De La Cruz steals 100th career base, Reds win 8-3 and assure Pirates 28th losing season in 34 years

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz joined Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson to become the third player to steal 100 bases in his first two seasons since the modern rule was adopted in 1898, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh 8-3 on Friday night to assure the Pirates their sixth straight losing season and 28th in 34 years.

Tyler Stephenson tied his career high with five RBIs and Nick Martinez (10-6) won his fourth straight start, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings.

De La Cruz swiped second base in the fifth inning and scored on Stephenson’s single for a 7-0 lead, his 65th stolen base this season. The 22-year-old is hitting .260 with 24 homers and 70 RBIs this year after batting .235 with 13 homers, RBIs and 35 steals in 98 games as a rookie.

“We know he’s fast,” Bell said. “Getting on base is a big part of that. He is going to get better at stealing bases.”

De La Cruz became the first player with 30 homers and 100 steals in his first two seasons.

Last-place Pittsburgh (72-82) has lost six of eight.

Martinez struck out nine, his most since June 11, 2022, and walked none.

“Nick’s been doing it all year for us,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Nick is just elite in everything he does, the way he prepares, the way he executes.”

Stephenson hit a solo homer in the first off Mitch Keller (11-11), a three-run double in a four-run third and a run-scoring single in a three-run fourth as Cincinnati built a 7-0 lead. He has 19 homers and a career high 65 RBIs.

“The last couple games, I've felt like myself again. I'm just trying to drive the ball and stay aggressive,” Stephenson said. “We've seen Keller a lot. He's a good pitcher. I just took advantage of the mistakes he made.”

Jonathan India hit his 15th homer in the fourth.

Keller tied a season high by giving up eight runs along with seven hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings. He lost his fourth straight losing decision.

“The big thing about Mitch is when he's in attack mode and uses all his pitches, we know he's in a good spot," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We were looking for Mitch to start the series strong.”

Oneil Cruz homered off Brent Suter leading off the seventh and joined Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen as the only Pirates 25 or younger to have 20-homer, 20-steal seasons.

Isaac Mattson, a 29-year-old right-hander, retired six straight batters in the seventh and eighth innings of his Pirates debut, his first big league appearance since four games for Baltimore in 2021.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene is coming of a bruised elbow to start Sunday in his first appearance since Aug. 13. “He will be controlled,” manager David Bell said. “A significant time has passed to just put him out there."

UP NEXT

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-7, 3.85 ERA) starts Saturday against Cincinnati RHP Rhett Lowder (1-2, 1.74).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz safely steals second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, left, safely steals second base as Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales, right, takes a throw during the fourth inning of a baseball, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India (6) hits a home run as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (14) and home plate umpire Jordan Baker look on in the fourth inning of a baseball, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl, front left, hits an RBI single as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart, right, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, center, hands the ball to pitcher Joey Wentz (34) during a pitching change in the fourth inning of a baseball against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jake Moody redeemed himself after missing three earlier field goals by booting a 44-yarder as time expired Sunday to give the San Francisco 49ers a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in running back Christian McCaffrey's season debut.

Moody, in his first game back after being sidelined three weeks with a sprained ankle, also kicked field goals of 28 and 33 yards for the defending NFC champion 49ers (5-4), who have won consecutive games for the first time this season.

But the usually reliable kicker, who was 13 of 14 entering Sunday, also missed wide left from 49 and 50 yards before missing wide right on a 44-yard attempt that would have given San Francisco a six-point lead with 3:09 remaining.

TV cameras caught 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel exchanging words and appearing to shove long snapper Taybor Pepper when the wide receiver approached Moody on the sideline after the third miss.

McCaffrey returned to practice last Monday after being sidelined since early September due to Achilles tendinitis. He carried for 5 yards on the first play and game and finished with 39 yards rushing on 13 attempts. The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year also had six receptions for 68 yards.

Baker Mayfield led a drive to set up a tying field goal for the Bucs (4-6) with help from three straight personal foul penalties — setting the stage for Moody to win it for the 49ers. Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 116 yards and one TD for the Bucs, who have lost four in a row.

Brock Purdy threw for 353 yards without an interception, and had touchdowns of 46 yards to rookie Ricky Pearsall — the wide receiver's first NFL score — and 11 yards to George Kittle. He moved his team into position for the winning field goal with two completions to Jauan Jennings and two more to Pearsall.

Pearsall sat out the first six games after being shot in the chest after an autograph session in downtown San Francisco on Aug. 31. On his touchdown, he caught a pass over the middle from Purdy, accelerated toward the left sideline where he outran the pursuit until safety Antoine Winfield Jr. closed in and nearly brought him down as the receiver extended the ball over the goal line.

The Bucs wiped out a 10-0 deficit with help from 49ers punt returner Jacob Cowing, whose third-quarter muff was recovered at San Francisco's 21 to set up Tampa Bay's first TD. Four plays later, Mayfield threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Rachaad White that made it 10-10.

Rookie Bucky Irving scored on 12-yard run that gave Tampa Bay ahead 17-13 early in the fourth quarter. Purdy answered with his TD throw to Kittle to put the 49ers back in front with just over seven minutes left.

49ers: DE Nick Bosa played after being listed as questionable after hurting his hip in practice.

Buccaneers: LT Tristan Wirfs limped off with a right knee injury in the second quarter and did not return. CB Zyon McCollum (hamstring) and LB Chris Braswell (oblique) departed in the second half.

49ers: Host NFC West rival Seattle next Sunday.

Buccaneers: Bye week.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Greg Gaines, bottom, as safety Jordan Whitehead (3) follows the play during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, bottom right, reacts after scoring a touchdown against San Francisco 49ers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, bottom left, and safety Malik Mustapha during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Josh Hayes (32) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) scores a touchdown against San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha, top, and linebacker De'Vondre Campbell during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody, middle left, celebrates with Mitch Wishnowsky (3) and teammates after kicking the game winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Josh Hayes (32) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody, middle, celebrates with teammates after kicking the game winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)