The Cincinnati Reds currently hold a 36-39 record following a dominant victory in the Bronx. The last 24 hours included a lopsided 10-2 win over the New York Yankees. It also featured a second rehab appearance for superstar Elly De La Cruz.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cincinnati Reds routed the Yankees 10-2 on Saturday, using a 15-hit attack to even the three-game series. Andrew Abbott earned the win, allowing just one run and striking out six over five innings of work. The game changed course in the fifth inning. A New York fielding error opened the floodgates. Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run. Then, a Sal Stewart sacrifice fly led to four unearned runs.
Standout Performer
Rookie Sal Stewart anchored the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a career-high-tying six RBIs. Stewart opened the scoring with a two-run double in the third. He added a sac fly in the fifth. He punctuated the victory with a bases-clearing double in the eighth. His historic afternoon provided a massive cushion for the bullpen, which combined for four innings of one-run relief.
Key News & Notes
Shortstop Elly De La Cruz completed his second rehab game with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. He went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter. Manager Terry Francona noted that De La Cruz is eager to return. He even joked in a text to Francona that he would be back in the big leagues by Sunday. In other injury news, Hunter Greene is scheduled to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A on June 23. Emilio Pagán is slated for another live batting practice session in Cincinnati this Monday.
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Farm Report
- Louisville Bats (AAA): Hector Rodriguez went 2-for-4. He hit his 17th home run of the season. This home run happened in a 4-2 comeback win over the Gwinnett Stripers. Rodriguez’s blast cut an early deficit in half, paving the way for late-game heroics from Francisco Urbaez and Garrett Hampson.
- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA): Julio Carreras finished 2-for-3 with a double. He also hit a home run in a 3-1 loss to the Smokies. Carreras provided the team’s only run with a solo shot in the eighth inning.
- Dayton Dragons (A+): Peyton Stovall recorded the team’s only hit. He went 1-for-3 with a walk in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Peoria Chiefs. The Dragons’ offense struggled throughout the night, striking out 10 times in the one-hit performance.
- Daytona Tortugas (Single-A): Game was postponed
- ACL Reds: No game scheduled
Deep Dive: Elly De La Cruz just made the Reds rethink their entire rehab plan
The original organizational plan for Elly De La Cruz involved three full rehab games this weekend. After that, he was supposed to rejoin the Reds for a home series against the Brewers. However, his immediate impact in Louisville has sparked internal debate about accelerating that timeline. In his first rehab appearance on Friday, De La Cruz went 2-for-2 with a home run. He appeared fully recovered from the right hamstring strain. This injury has sidelined him since June 1. His presence is desperately needed in Cincinnati. The club has gone just 6-11 during his absence. This is the second-worst winning percentage in the Major Leagues over that span.
The urgency for his return is clear. The team’s significant offensive drop-off underscores it. Without De La Cruz, the Reds have averaged only 3.82 runs per game and have fallen 9.5 games back of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. While his temporary replacement, Matt McLain, has performed admirably with an OPS over .800, the rest of the lineup has struggled to produce consistent results. Manager Terry Francona admitted De La Cruz texted him Saturday. De La Cruz said, “I’ll be there tomorrow.” This signaled the star’s eagerness to return to the active roster. The Reds’ leadership often avoids rushing players back from soft-tissue injuries. However, the mounting losses and the impending trade deadline may lead the front office to reconsider its conservative strategy. They need to keep the 2026 season from slipping away.
Looking Ahead
The Reds look to take the series on Sunday as Chase Burns (8-1, 2.01 ERA) takes the mound against New York’s Elmer Rodríguez.
Sal Stewart’s breakout game proves the youth movement in Cincinnati still has plenty of teeth, even with the stars sidelined. What do you think?
