TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Elly De La Cruz homered twice and drove in five runs as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 12-6 on Tuesday night at George Steinbrenner Field. De La Cruz hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the ninth, part of a 10-hit attack for the Reds. Cincinnati built an 11-0 lead before Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The Rays added four runs in the ninth. Winning pitcher Chase Burns allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight. Steven Matz took the loss for Tampa Bay. Attendance was 14,749. The game took 3 hours to play. With the win, the Reds improved to 16-8, while the Rays fell to 12-11. The teams conclude their series Wednesday.

TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Elly De La Cruz launched two home runs and drove in five, Chase Burns struck out eight over 5 2/3 strong innings, and the Cincinnati Reds pounded the Tampa Bay Rays 12-6 on Tuesday night at George Steinbrenner Field. The Reds, winners of five straight and nine of their last 10, improved to 16-8, while the Rays fell to 12-11. Cincinnati wasted no time, striking for two runs in the first inning against Rays starter Steven Matz. After a leadoff walk to Dane Myers, De La Cruz hammered a line-drive, two-run homer to right-center field. The offensive onslaught continued in the second when Ke’Bryan Hayes and Myers hit back-to-back solo shots, pushing the lead to 4-0. Burns, the winning pitcher, was dominant early. The right-hander allowed just four hits and two earned runs while walking one. He faced minimal pressure as the Reds built their lead, with Tampa Bay failing to advance a runner past second base through the first five innings. The Reds broke the game open with a four-run sixth. After two walks, Matt McLain doubled home a run. De La Cruz then drove in another with a fielder’s choice, and Sal Stewart delivered the big blow, a two-run single to center that made it 9-0. Tampa Bay finally broke through against Burns in the bottom of the sixth. Following a single by Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda connected for a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 9-2. Cincinnati responded immediately, adding two more in the seventh on an RBI single from De La Cruz and a sacrifice fly from Stewart. De La Cruz capped his spectacular night with a solo blast to left-center in the ninth, his eighth of the season, to extend the lead to 12-2. The most important part of the game was the Reds’ immediate and sustained offensive explosion. By scoring two runs in the first and two more in the second, they placed immediate pressure on Matz and the Rays, allowing Burns to pitch with a significant cushion. This early barrage set the tone for the entire contest and rendered Tampa Bay’s late rally meaningless. The Rays mounted a frantic, four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth against Reds reliever Ben Williamson, who struggled with his command. Three walks and a two-run double by Jonny DeLuca accounted for the scoring, but Pierce Johnson entered to record the final out with the bases loaded, securing the victory. De La Cruz, the top star for Cincinnati, finished 3 for 6. His performance marked a powerful breakout after a relatively quiet stretch at the plate in recent games. Burns earned the win, improving to 2-1. Matz took the loss for Tampa Bay, surrendering six earned runs on six hits in five innings, to fall to 3-1. Stewart contributed three RBIs for the Reds, while Aranda drove in three for the Rays. Cincinnati’s bullpen, aside from the ninth-inning struggles, was effective, with Sam Moll and Johnson combining for 2 1/3 scoreless innings before the final frame. The game, played in 3 hours before a crowd of 14,749, saw the teams combine for 18 runs, surpassing the pregame over/under line of 7.5. The result defied the projections of National Statistical’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-5 Rays victory, and its ELO system, which gave Tampa Bay a 50.9% probability to win. The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Wednesday. The Reds will then return home to open a series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, while the Rays will host the Minnesota Twins starting Friday.

Preview: Reds, Rays Set for Game 2 in Tampa TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The surging Cincinnati Reds look to continue their strong start when they face the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at George Steinbrenner Field. Cincinnati (15-8) took the series opener 6-1 on Monday behind a strong outing from Rhett Lowder and a home run from Sal Stewart. The Reds have won four of their last five and sit atop the National League Central. Tampa Bay (12-10) will aim to even the series after managing just one run on five hits in the loss. The Rays had won six of seven prior to Monday’s defeat. The pitching matchup features a contrast in early-season success. The Reds are expected to start right-hander Chase Burns (1-1, 4.15 ERA). Burns, a former top draft pick, has shown flashes of dominance but seeks more consistency. He will be opposed by veteran left-hander Steven Matz (3-0, 2.89 ERA), who has been a reliable arm for the Rays’ rotation. Matz has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his four starts this season. A player to watch for Cincinnati is Lowder, who is coming off Monday’s win where he allowed one run over six innings. For Tampa Bay, reliever Trevor Martin will look to rebound after allowing a run in 2 1/3 innings of relief in the opener. Despite the Reds’ recent form and superior record, National Statistical’s game simulator projects a high-scoring affair with Tampa Bay winning 6-5. Cincinnati is listed as a -1.5 run favorite in sportsbooks, with an over/under set at 7.5 runs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT under clear skies with a game-time temperature near 79 degrees.