Elly De La Cruz hits 25th homer, a three-run bomb, as Reds pound Pirates 7-1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer, drove in four runs and scored twice to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

De La Cruz, who had three hits, joined Eric Davis and Barry Larkin as the only Reds players with 25 homers and 65 stolen bases in a season.

“It means a lot to me, those are great players,” De La Cruz said. “I feel great. I wanted to finish strong.”

De La Cruz stole his 100th career base in his 251st game on Friday night.

Rookie Rhett Lowder (2-2) made his fifth start for Cincinnati and allowed five hits in five innings. He has a 1.40 ERA through five starts, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of them.

With runners on first and third in the fourth, Lowder fell behind 3-0 to Connor Joe. He struck out Joe then got Nick Yorke to fly out ending the inning. He also worked through a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.

“That's the story today, just being able to make those pitches in crunch time,” Lowder said. “Not panicking 3-0 gave me a little boost going (forward). I'm pretty happy with how I made pitches in big situations.”

It was Lowder's first victory at Great American Ball Park after having his 14 1/3-inning scoreless streak snapped in a loss to the Twins on Sunday at Target Field.

“He made pitches when he needed to, which shows the maturity,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He's prepared. He knows what he's doing. With that movement, always gives him a chance.”

De La Cruz doubled and scored on Tyler Stephenson's single to put the Reds ahead 1-0 in the third. Ty France followed with his 13th homer of the season to make the score 3-0.

In the fourth, De La Cruz's three-run homer struck the railing just below the upper-level bar in right field to make the score 6-0.

Pirates rookie Jared jones (6-8) tied season-highs with six earned runs and two homers allowed.

Billy Cook hit a solo homer off Alan Busenitz in the ninth for Pittsburgh's run.

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: LHP Sam Moll (left shoulder impingement) will not pitch this season. ... C Austin Wynns (right teres major tear) had planned for a rehab assignment this month, but instead will be shut down.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes (10-3, 2.07) has the lowest ERA in the major leagues since debuting on May 11.

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (9-4, 2.83) will come off the injured list to make his first start since Aug 13.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates' Billy Cook (28) looks to the sky as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. The Reds won 7-1. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, right, celebrates after his three-run home run with Jonathan India, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl catches a fly ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz for the third out of the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Borucki throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz hits a three-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal (6) and home plate umpire Charlie Ramos during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox placed third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with left shoulder inflammation.

Devers left Friday night’s 12-inning loss to the Minnesota Twins in the top of the 11th. The slugger went 1 for 4 with a walk and three strikeouts.

Saturday's game against Minnesota was postponed because of rain. It was rescheduled as part of a Sunday doubleheader.

Speaking before the game was rained out, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Devers tweaked his shoulder while working in the batting cage and tried to play through it.

Devers, who turns 28 on Oct. 24, finalized a 10-year contract with the Red Sox in January 2023 that is worth $313.5 million. He is batting .272 with 28 homers and 83 RBIs in 138 games. The three-time All-Star leads AL third basemen with 12 errors.

“He made some adjustments throughout and yesterday he was like, there wasn’t much there,” Cora said Saturday. “Today, actually, we talked about something I saw mechanically, and he was very honest about it. The bat speed, it wasn’t there. We can see it.”

Catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take Devers’ spot on the roster.

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

Red Sox place 3B Rafael Devers on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation

Red Sox place 3B Rafael Devers on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers smiles after hitting a two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)