Cincinnati kept the Dodgers waiting on a division title Wednesday night, and its shortstop moved a step closer to a piece of franchise history in the process.
The Los Angeles Dodgers came to Great American Ball Park closing in on the National League West title, and on Wednesday night the Cincinnati Reds pushed the celebration back at least one more day.
Cincinnati won 6-2 behind another big swing from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who has spent the past month looking like the most dangerous hitter in the league at exactly the time his team's season is winding down.
How the Reds Shut the Door
Los Angeles took an early lead on catcher Will Smith's run-scoring double in the third, and De La Cruz answered in the bottom half with a two-run homer to right, his 28th of the year, that put the Reds ahead for good.
Center fielder Dane Myers added a solo shot in the fifth, and the lineup kept piling on from there, with run-scoring singles from right fielder Juan Brito, first baseman Sal Stewart and outfielder TJ Friedl.
Starter Andrew Abbott held the Dodgers to one run into the fifth, the bullpen finished the job, and Los Angeles stranded 12 runners on the night.
Dodgers starter Blake Snell was gone after one inning with left groin tightness, which only made the hole deeper.
The 30-30 Chase Is Real
De La Cruz, who has been piling up milestones all season, now has 28 home runs and 26 stolen bases with 10 games left, which puts the first 30-30 season of his career within reach.
Only one player in the majors has reached the club this season, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, and only three Reds have ever done it, Brandon Phillips in 2007, Barry Larkin in 1996 and Eric Davis in 1987.
De La Cruz has also reached base in 23 straight games, matching a career best, and he is hitting .424 with eight homers during the streak.
Manager Terry Francona sees a hitter in complete control of his swing.
"He's on time. He's got balance. When a guy is on balance, they shrink the strike zone a little bit, and he leverages the ball so well when he's on balance and he uses the whole field," Francona said.
The Dodgers have seen the best of it, since De La Cruz is hitting .429 with five homers in six meetings with them this year, more than half of Cincinnati's damage in the season series.
Playing Spoiler
The Reds are out of the playoff race, but nights like Wednesday are the reason the last 10 games still mean something.
Stewart had three hits and keeps looking comfortable in the middle of the order, Brito matched him with three of his own, and second baseman Matt McLain scored twice while showing more signs of life at the plate.
The Dodgers will clinch eventually, but a young Reds team is making them earn it, and De La Cruz is giving Cincinnati fans a September worth watching on his own.
Chases like his do not come around often for a team playing out the string, and this one deserves the full attention of everyone in that ballpark this weekend.
