CHICAGO — Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz performed with a heavy coronary heart Sunday after studying of the demise of his older sister, however supervisor Terry Francona stated the 23-year-old shortstop was insistent on being within the lineup.
De La Cruz hit a two-run homer and scored two runs in Cincinnati’s 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Francona stated De La Cruz insisted he needed to play within the finale of the weekend sequence, and the crew was going to help him.
After his towering dwelling run — the fiftieth of his profession — De La Cruz patted his chest as he took his closing steps towards the plate, pointed to the sky and clapped.
After stepping on the plate, he made a coronary heart form together with his fingers.
“We care a lot about taking part in a sport and profitable,” Francona stated, “however in a rush, you are reminded of what is actually vital. So I feel everyone type of stored their head on a swivel with him immediately, simply making an attempt to handle him.”
Relations confirmed to Z101 Digital within the Dominican Republic that De La Cruz’s sister Genelis died Saturday after coping with well being issues for a while.
De La Cruz declined to talk with reporters Sunday. The Reds additionally declined to supply any extra particulars, citing De La Cruz’s needs.
“He takes a lot satisfaction in being out there,” Francona stated. “Guys like that, Carlos Santana in Cleveland was very comparable, and for a child that is that younger, that is an admirable trait.”
De La Cruz singled within the first and flied out within the fourth. He linked for his twelfth homer (estimated at 423 ft) within the sixth and walked and scored on Tyler Stephenson’s sacrifice fly within the ninth.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
