CINCINNATI (AP) — Ellie de la Cruz became just the third player, joining Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson, to steal 100 bases in each of the first two seasons since modern rules were adopted in 1898, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh 8-3 on Friday night, sealing the Pirates’ sixth consecutive losing season and their 28th in 34 years.
Tyler Stephenson tied his career high with five RBIs, and Nick Martinez (10-6) allowed just two hits in six innings to earn his fourth straight win.
De La Cruz stole second base in the fifth inning and followed up a Stevenson single for a 7-0 lead, his 65th stolen base of the season. The 22-year-old De La Cruz is batting .260 with 24 home runs and 70 RBIs this season after batting .235 with 13 home runs, RBI and 35 stolen bases in 98 games as a rookie.
“We know he’s fast,” Bell said, “and getting on base is a big part of it. He’s going to get better at stealing bases.”
De la Cruz became the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 100 bases in each of his first two seasons.
Last-place Pittsburgh (72-82) has lost six of eight games.
Martinez struck out nine batters, his most since June 11, 2022, and walked zero.
“Nick has been great for us all year,” Reds manager David Bell said, “and he’s first-class in the way he prepares, the way he executes and everything he does.”
Stevenson hit a solo homer off Mitch Keller (11-11) in the first inning, a three-run double in the third inning after giving up four runs and a single in the fourth inning after giving up three runs to help Cincinnati jump out to a 7-0 lead. Stevenson has hit 19 home runs and has a career-high 65 RBIs.
“The last few games I’ve been able to be myself, just hitting the ball and being aggressive,” Stevenson said. “I’ve watched Keller a lot and he’s a good pitcher. I’ve just taken advantage of his mistakes.”
Jonathan India hit his 15th home run in the fourth inning.
Keller gave up seven hits, five walks and eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, tying his season high. He lost his fourth straight game.
“The great thing about Mitch is when he’s in attack mode and throwing all his pitches, you know he’s in good form,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We were hoping Mitch would start the series strong.”
O’Neill Cruz homered off leadoff hitter Brent Suter in the top of the seventh inning, becoming the only Pirates players under the age of 25 to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season, joining Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen.
Isaac Mattson, a 29-year-old right-hander, struck out six consecutive batters in the seventh and eighth innings of his Pirates debut, his first major league appearance since appearing in four games with Baltimore in 2021.
Trainer Room
Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene has recovered from an elbow contusion and will start Sunday’s game, his first appearance on the mound since Aug. 13. “He’s going to be controlled,” manager David Bell said. “It’s been a while since we’ve just had him out there.”
Next
Pirates RHP Jarred Jones (6-7, 3.85 ERA) faced Cincinnati RHP Rhett Roeder (1-2, 1.74 ERA) on Saturday.
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