MIAMI – Another big day for Elly De La Cruz at the plate and six strong innings from left-hander Nick Lodolo led another cruise-control ride to victory for the Cincinnati Reds over the gutted, no-name Miami Marlins Tuesday night.
De La Cruz, who delivered two home runs and two doubles in Monday's opener , had another four-hit game Tuesday, including doubles in the third and fourth innings as the Reds jumped to an early lead on the way to an 8-2 victory in the second game of a four-game series in Miami.
Monday and Tuesday marked the second and third four-hit games of the season for De La Cruz, fifth and sixth of his 209-game career.
After his third-inning double, De La Cruz stole third with the ball still in the hand of pitcher Max Meyer, who didn't react until it was too late to make a throw.
It raised De La Cruz's MLB-leading stolen base total to 58, one of seven shortstops in history to steal that many in a season (moving past Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio, whose career high was 57).
Lodolo (9-4) retired 10 straight after allowing a leadoff double in the first and finished with his eighth quality start of the season – six days after allowing eight runs in his worst start of the season.
Lodolo, who is one start and one-third of an inning short of career highs he established as a rookie in 2022, struck out seven and walked three on Tuesday, all three during a two-run fourth inning. He appeared to be out of the inning with a 6-0 lead intact until an out call at first on a potential inning-ending double play was overturned after a challenge.
Two walks and a two-run single followed.
The Reds have outscored the Marlins 18-5 in the first two games this week, improving to 4-1 this season against the Marlins, who blew up their roster at the trade deadline.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elly De La Cruz, Nick Lodolo lead Cincinnati Reds to 8-2 victory over Miami Marlins
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