Sunday afternoon’s series finale between the Reds and Brewers at American Family Field should be subtitled the Elly De La Cruz show. It was hardly a coming out party for the 22-year-old switch hitting phenom, but for those who had never seen him play in person, he gave the people their money’s worth. He was 3-4 with 3 runs scored, a triple, homer and league-leading 36th stolen base. He played a terrific shortstop as well.

Like so many Reds pitchers, yesterday’s starter, Frankie Montas, had not been pitching up to expectations. He entered the game with a 3-5 record and 4.55 ERA. Conversely, Brewers starter, Colin Ray at 5-2 and 3.31 ERA, was the team’s most consistent starting pitcher. He definitely was pitching above his pay grade.

As is the case on most Sunday afternoon games, friend David and I didn’t get to see BP or much pregame baseball stuff. I did however, bump into former Brewer and current color analyst, Tim Dillard. It was nice to touch base with the always affable righty and son of former Cub, Steve Dillard.

Save for a couple ill-fated food runs, we didn’t abandon our seats down the left field line.

The Reds started the scoring in the top of the first after De La Cruz laced a one-out triple into right field. Other players would have strolled into second, not considering risking the second out at third.

A function of speed, Part I

Jeimer Candelario drove him in with a deep fly to right. The Reds took a 1-0 lead which they’d add to in the third. With two outs in the top of the 3rd, De La Cruz coaxed a walk and stole second easily. After failing to hold him to first, Rea overcompensated by tossing the ball into center. He took complete advantage of the miscue and scored easily from second. Reds 2-Brewers 0.

Editor’s note: The Reds hit every ball hard in the first four innings. The Brewers outfield played superior defense. Rea also threw the ball away in the 2nd, allowing Jake Fraley to take second. He didn’t score though.

Spencer Steer led off the 4th with a screaming line drive to left field for a 3-0 lead.

Montas held the Brewers in check for four innings save for a single and pair of walks. One of the walks was wiped out getting thrown out in an attempted steal. However, Brice Turang made good on a second attempt of second but was left stranded.

The Brewers finally scored in the fifth when rookie third baseman, who led off with a double, later scored on Jackson Chourio’s ground out to De La Cruz. Amazingly, Rea returned to the mound in the 6th despite it being his third time through the order. He would finish the day with 6 innings and 92 pitches.

While the numbers wouldn’t suggest Montas was laboring through his start, it should be noted he used every second available to him on the pitch count. I don’t think the umps were paying attention.

Milwaukee pounced on him in the 6th as William Contreras led off with a single and Christian Yelich walked. That was it for Montas (5 innings+ and 89 pitches. Willy Adames crushed the first pitch from Lucas Sims for a 400+ ft homer to center.

The home run changed both the tenor of the game and awoke the Brewers fans from their dormancy. It was like the emergence of the cicadas.

Milwaukee added an insurance run in the 7th after a combo of Brewer relievers held off the Reds in the 6th. Slick fielding second baseman, Brice Turang led of the inning with a single, stole second and took third on an errant throw by Tyler Stephenson. He scored easily on a surprise bunt single down the first base line by Yelich.

With lefty and Saturday’s opener Jared Koenig, already on the mound, De La Cruz turned around to bat righty. He smoked one and narrowed the lead to 5-4. Joel Payamps worked his way out of a jam of his own doing. Center fielder, Blake Perkins made a diving catch on a liner. Right fielder Sal Frelick made a spectacular catch earlier in the game as well.

Temporary closer, Trevor Megill took the mound in the 9th and struck out the first batter. Left fielder, Stuart Fairchild hit a routine grounder to Adames who may have accounted for Fairchild’s speed, threw one into the Brewers dugout. After a harmless pop out to short, De La Cruz was walked intentionally to preserve the force.

Third baseman, Santiago Espinal looped a single into short center which Perkins immediately pounced on. He made a perfect throw to Contreras who tagged out Fairchild before a collision. Fairchild was called out and the Brewers won 5-4.

Two hours and forty minutes, and a delicious smashburger later we headed home among the cheers of the locals. We also made a not so brief detour for a triple at Leon’s Frozen Custards.

This was an excellent example of speed and power winning out.