Matt McLain, home run
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"This is the players completely playing off of their manager, of lettin' the bills fly," Jim Day said of the Reds' celebration.
Everything you need to know about the Reds' first series of 2025, including what Emilio Pagán did with Saturday's game ball.
It took four games but the Reds found the full throttle for their offense, with both their little engine -- Matt McLain \-\- and their big engine -- Elly De La Cruz \-\- combining forces to provide the power.
Elly De La Cruz had a single, double and two home runs for a career-high seven RBIs, Brady Singer pitched seven scoreless innings in his Cincinnati debut, and the Reds routed the Texas Rangers 14-3.
Like it or not, the Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz just dumped a ton of fuel on torpedo-style bat conversation that's engulfed MLB.
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Kumar Rocker’s first start of the season went awry in a game that “started bad and got gradually worse” for Texas.
Reds Elly De La Cruz (44) swings during the Reds 149th Opening Day game played against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday March 27, 2025. The Giants won the game with a final score of 6-4. / Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a go-ahead solo homer, Matt McLain had two extra-base hits and an RBI and the Cincinnati Reds spoiled the San Francisco debut of three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander,