Reds star Elly De La Cruz hits a home run, flashes a heart after learning of his sister's death
Elly De La Cruz didn't need to play on Sunday afternoon. Nobody would have blamed him if he opted to take the day off.
But the Cincinnati Reds shortstop, despite just learning about the death of his sister, took the field anyways at Wrigley Field on Sunday. And in the bottom of the sixth inning, he found a perfect way to honor his sister out on the field.
Advertisement
De La Cruz hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, which marked his 12th of the season and the 50th of his career. As he started making his way to home, after hitting the dab with his third base coach, De La Cruz pointed up to the sky and flashed a heart.
De La Cruz also wrote a message to his sister on his hat before the game.
Elly De La Cruz's older sister died on Saturday in the Dominican Republic. ()
(Geoff Stellfox via Getty Images)
The home run put the Reds on the board for the first time on Sunday, and cut the Cubs' lead down to three. The Cubs, though, added two more runs in the seventh and powered ahead to the 7-3 win.
De La Cruz's older sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez, died on Saturday in the Dominican Republic after a lengthy battle with multiple health issues, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer . It's unclear when De La Cruz learned of his sister's death, but some of his teammates reportedly didn't know about it just a few hours before Sunday's game got started.
'We just told him we'll support whatever he needs to do,' Reds manager Terry Francona said before the game, via the Enquirer. 'He wants to play today, and then we'll go from there.'
Advertisement
De La Cruz had two hits on the day in the loss for the Reds, which dropped them to 29-31 on the season. The team will be back in action on Monday in Cincinnati when they open a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
It's unclear if De La Cruz will take some time off in the near future to be with his family. But, at least in the immediate aftermath of his loss, the Reds star still found a way to honor his sister in his own unique way.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll's home runs power Diamondbacks to 8-3 win over Braves
ATLANTA (AP) — Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll each homered twice and the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a five-game road losing streak with an 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. Zac Gallen (4-7), who had struggled with an 8.02 ERA in his last four starts, surrendered just one earned run in seven innings. He gave up four hits, struck out four and retired the first 10 batters of the game. Marte was 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and two walks and Corbin Carroll was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Carroll now has 18 home runs on the season. Spencer Strider (0-4) surrendered three home runs while his ERA climbed to 5.68 for the season after giving up five runs on six hits in five innings. Marte hit his first home run 445 feet into the right field seats in the first inning. Carroll's second home run was a three-run shot in the ninth inning that put the game out of reach. Braves rookie catcher Drake Baldwin hit his sixth home run and threw two runners out in the seventh inning, catching Carroll stealing and picking Marte off first. Baldwin was named the NL's rookie of the month in May. The Braves have lost nine of their last 12. Key moment With two outs and two Atlanta runners on in the eighth inning and Arizona leading 5-3, Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas made a running catch just in front of the wall in center to take a potential game-tying hit away from Marcell Ozuna. Key stat Strider has given up at least one home run in 11 of his last 14 starts (including playoffs), dating to the 2023 season. He has surrendered five in 19 innings this season. Up next Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-2, 3.78 ERA) will face reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale (3-3, 3.06) in the second game of the three-game set on Wednesday. ___ AP MLB:
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
Rockies edge Marlins 3-2
The Colorado Rockies ended a streak of 22 consecutive series losses dating to last year, beating the Miami Marlins 3-2 Tuesday night as Hunter Goodman homered for the third time in two games. Colorado, a major league-worst 11-50, won consecutive games for just the second time this year after beating Atlanta on April 30 and San Francisco the next day. They go for a series sweep against the Marlins on Wednesday. Goodman hit his 10th homer of the season in the eighth inning as the Rockies ended a run of 19 series losses this season. He had two homers in a 6-4 win over Miami on Monday. Goodman went 2 for 4 with his 12th double of the season. Tyler Freeman had three hits and Jordan Beck two. The Rockies tied the game in the fifth on Beck's RBI single and Thairo Estrada's sacrifice fly. Victor Vodnik (1-1) worked 1 1/3 innings of relief for the win. Seth Halvorsen retired three pinch hitters in the ninth and earned his third save. Colorado center fielder Brenton Doyle ended the game with a running catch at the wall to retire Heriberto Hernández. Anthony Bender (1-4) gave up Goodman's homer. The 30-year-old right-hander had not allowed a homer since Aug. 10, 2024. Chase Dollander was reinstated from the injured list and started for the Rockies. The 23-year-old lasted three innings and 59 pitches, giving up RBI singles to Jesús Sánchez and Kyle Stowers. Sánchez had two hits for Miami, which has lost three in a row and seven of eight. Miami's Sandy Alcantara matched his longest start of the year, working six innings, but didn't figure in the decision for the second straight game after seven straight losses. With two outs in the Marlins' seventh, Xavier Edwards and Sánchez singled. Vodnik relieved and got Agustín Ramírez on a tapper back to the mound. Eight of Goodman's homers have come on the road. Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (0-8, 5.72) faces Miami's LHP Cal Quantrill (3-5, 5.84) in Wednesday's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Rockies snap streak of 22 straight series losses dating to '24 with 3-2 win over Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — The Colorado Rockies ended a streak of 22 consecutive series losses dating to last year, beating the Miami Marlins 3-2 Tuesday night as Hunter Goodman homered for the third time in two games. Colorado, a major league-worst 11-50, won consecutive games for just the second time this year after beating Atlanta on April 30 and San Francisco the next day. They go for a series sweep against the Marlins on Wednesday. Goodman hit his 10th homer of the season in the eighth inning as the Rockies ended a run of 19 series losses this season. He had two homers in a 6-4 win over Miami on Monday. Goodman went 2 for 4 with his 12th double of the season. Tyler Freeman had three hits and Jordan Beck two. The Rockies tied the game in the fifth on Beck's RBI single and Thairo Estrada's sacrifice fly. Victor Vodnik (1-1) worked 1 1/3 innings of relief for the win. Seth Halvorsen retired three pinch hitters in the ninth and earned his third save. Colorado center fielder Brenton Doyle ended the game with a running catch at the wall to retire Heriberto Hernández. Anthony Bender (1-4) gave up Goodman's homer. The 30-year-old right-hander had not allowed a homer since Aug. 10, 2024. Chase Dollander was reinstated from the injured list and started for the Rockies. The 23-year-old lasted three innings and 59 pitches, giving up RBI singles to Jesús Sánchez and Kyle Stowers. Sánchez had two hits for Miami, which has lost three in a row and seven of eight. Miami's Sandy Alcantara matched his longest start of the year, working six innings, but didn't figure in the decision for the second straight game after seven straight losses. Key moment With two outs in the Marlins' seventh, Xavier Edwards and Sánchez singled. Vodnik relieved and got Agustín Ramírez on a tapper back to the mound. Key stat Eight of Goodman's homers have come on the road. Up next Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (0-8, 5.72) faces Miami's LHP Cal Quantrill (3-5, 5.84) in Wednesday's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
