CINCINNATI -- 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.
McLain hit his third home run in as many games while De La Cruz -- using a much-ballyhooed "Torpedo" bat -- connected for his first two homers of the season, his first steal and a career-high seven RBIs to lead a 14-3 rout of the Rangers on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.
¡°Obviously, we both love playing together," McLain said. "The pressure that we can both put on teams is fun. ¡ Especially with him behind me, specifically, putting pressure on teams with his speed and his power and everything he can do is fun.¡±
De La Cruz became the latest Major League hitter to make use of the "Torpedo" bat that's made with the barrel closer to the hands. It's the same type of bat that made weekend headlines after the Yankees' homer barrage vs. the Brewers. The switch-hitting De La Cruz tried it in batting practice Monday and used it in a game for the first time later that night.
¡°I just wanted to know if it feels good -- and it definitely does," De La Cruz said.
Manager Terry Francona downplayed the bat having a big effect on his shortstop's game.
¡°I think it¡¯s more the player than the bat," Francona said.
The only Reds player who had previously used a "Torpedo" bat was catcher Jose Trevino, who played for the Yankees before his offseason trade to Cincinnati.
¡°Trevino talked about it in Spring Training, but I hadn¡¯t really used it until today," De La Cruz said.
When asked if he would use the bat again, De La Cruz replied with a laugh. After his success, other Reds could very well follow suit -- and Francona had no issue with that.
¡°Our guys are going to order what they¡¯re comfortable with," Francona said before the game. "Bats are really personal. Whatever guys want to use, as long as they¡¯re MLB approved, I don¡¯t care. We can¡¯t be whipping out the Wonderboy.¡±
The dynamic duo of De La Cruz and McLain each debuted in 2023 and nearly led a surprising Cincinnati surge into the postseason before falling short on the final weekend. De La Cruz was without his double play partner last season, with McLain missing the entire year with a left shoulder injury.
¡°We¡¯re definitely feeling good playing together," De La Cruz said. "I feel good having him back."
In one night, Cincinnati scored more runs than the 10 it scored over the first three games in dropping its season-opening series to the Giants. The Reds had 21 hits in the first three games, then collected 14 hits on Monday.
Francona noted after Sunday's 6-3 loss to San Francisco that his lineup was taking good at-bats and hitting the ball hard without much success. That changed during the series opener vs. Texas, especially after an adjustment.
¡°Today, during the afternoon, there were a number of guys hitting off the machine, like the velocity, because we knew it was coming," Francona said. "We were geared up and ready for it. I thought [the Giants' Robbie] Ray got some fastballs by us early in the game [Sunday] that kind of beat us up a little bit.¡±
The first four Reds to bat in the first inning collected hits against Rangers starter Kumar Rocker. The second batter, McLain, hit a 1-0 fastball for a two-run homer to left-center field to give the Reds a quick 2-0 lead. De La Cruz followed with a single, stole second base and took third on catcher Jonah Heim's throwing error.
Gavin Lux's RBI double to right-center field extended Cincinnati's lead to 3-0.
The offense kept up in the second inning. With two on and two out, De La Cruz attacked a first-pitch slider from Rocker for a three-run homer to center field -- his first of the season -- to push the lead to 6-0.
Cincinnati added six more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including a two-run double lined sharply into the left-field corner by De La Cruz. For Francona, Monday marked the first personal experience watching how the electric 23-year-old can change a game.
¡°I know I¡¯m on the late show with that," Francona said. "What I told him was the impressive thing, I think, is the line drive to left field. When he does that, that means he¡¯s on balance, controlling the ball the other way -- and you better make some pretty good pitches when he¡¯s on balance.¡±
Needing a triple to complete the second cycle of his career in the seventh inning, De La Cruz instead tattooed his second homer of the night -- a two-run drive to center field that traveled a Statcast-projected 436 feet. He wasn't thinking about a triple as he batted.
¡°Nah, nah. Just hit my pitch," De La Cruz said.
Not to be overshadowed was a brilliant debut for starting pitcher Brady Singer, who gave up one hit over seven scoreless innings, with eight strikeouts and two walks. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Singer is the first Reds pitcher since at least 1900 to have a start of at least seven scoreless innings with no more than one hit allowed in his team debut.
¡°The offense was incredible. Elly is really good at baseball," Singer said. "It makes my life a lot easier when they score 14. It took the pressure off, and they were tremendous tonight.¡±