Nathaniel Lowe discusses surging Reds offense
Nathaniel Lowe discussed the Cincinnati Reds’ surging offense. Cincinnati posted run outputs of 17 and 19 runs ahead of facing the Dodgers March 5.
- Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz homered again in the Reds’ game vs. Dodgers March 5.
- McLain also had a pair of singles as he continued his hot hitting this spring.
- Reds back-end relievers Emilio Pagan and Tony Santillan both allowed home runs, three in the case of Pagan.
GOODYEAR, AZ. − Sure, the wind was blowing out at Goodyear Ballpark, but a still day wouldn’t have helped the yard hold the 10 home runs the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers produced Thursday, March 5.
Fittingly, the game ended on a home run, specifically a walk-off, three-run homer by Cincinnati’s Rece Hinds that gave the Reds (6-4) a wild 14-13 victory.
The Reds and Dodgers’ home runs nearly all were tape-measure shots. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz even hit a ball that was confirmed to have cleared the venue’s perimeter fence along the center field concourse.
The teams combined to hit several other homers that landed atop a shelter in the right field stands, which is already situated above one of the highest stretches of outfield wall in the park.
Ultimately, a Dodgers team (9-4) that didn’t feature much of its usual star power surrendered four runs in the Reds’ half of the ninth inning.
Matt McLain staying hot as Reds’ No. 2 hitter
If you can name a variety of offensive statistic, Reds second baseman Matt McLain is almost certainly leading his club in that area. In fact, it would be easier to note the stats he doesn’t lead the team in (doubles and triples, for example).
McLain had another solid day at the plate against the Dodgers, going 3-for-3 with two singles and a line-drive, two-run home run to left-center field. The homer came off Dodgers starter, Cole Irvin.
It’s well-documented by now that McLain is seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season on the offensive side. So far, so good on that front as he entered the Dodgers game hitting .571 with a 1.933 OPS. The home run was his team-leading fourth of the spring.
The Reds would like to see McLain earn his way back to the No. 2 spot in the order for the regular season, and McLain is so far getting the job done.
Elly De La Cruz continued his strong spring for Reds
De La Cruz’s monster first-inning home run off Irvin not only cleared the batter’s eye in center field, which is 410 feet from home plate, but it soared over Goodyear Ballpark’s perimeter fence, the Reds confirmed.
MLB.com’s “Gameday” feature indicated an estimated distance on the home run of 438 feet. If you were in attendance or saw the hit during ESPN’s national broadcast of the game, you might question that estimation. And if wouldn’t be the first time a spring-training distance estimate was scrutinized.
For the day, De La Cruz went 2-for-3. He also singled.
De La Cruz doesn’t do many things quietly, but his solid spring at the plate to-date might be going under the radar a bit. He entered the March 5 contest hitting .500, and the homer was his second in Cactus League play.
Former Reds get over on their old team
The team the Dodgers brought to Goodyear wasn’t exactly the world-beater assemblage. On top of the fact that some of their best stars are away on World Baseball Classic duty, other well-known players from Los Angeles’ back-to-back World Series champion teams simply didn’t make the bus trip from Camelback Ranch.
What the Dodgers did bring with them to Goodyear was a few familiar names, including Santiago Espinal, who hit two home runs in the game. The first was a solo home run off Reds closer Emilio Pagán in the third inning. Espinal and Max Muncy went back-to-back off Pagán in the frame, and Pagán allowed four runs on four hits in his lone inning of work.
Espinal then went deep off Reds reliever and former Cincinnati teammate Tony Santillan in the fourth inning.
Later in the game, former Reds player Nick Senzel (0-for-1) entered the game for the Dodgers at third base and also homered.
While not a member of the Reds organization at any point, Sean McLain, brother of Matt McLain, also entered the contest for the latter innings.
Next up for Cincinnati | Reds travel to Scottsdale to face San Francisco
The Reds on Friday, March 6 will play the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium (3:05 p.m. ET). Cincinnati is expected to send Andrew Abbott out to start with Sam Moll, Yunior Marte, Tejay Antone and Lyon Richardson available in relief.
