Kennedy wins in main league return, De La Cruz has 4 hits as Reds beat Nationals

Brett Kennedy received his first main league look in 5 years, Elly De La Cruz went 4 for five with hits from each side of the plate and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 on Tuesday.

Kennedy struck out three and allowed 4 runs and 5 hits in five-plus innings, solely stepping into bother late in his 86-pitch outing.

De La Cruz had three singles batting right-handed and one left-handed. The switch-hitting rookie sensation was robbed of his first profession five-hit sport by Nationals heart fielder Derek Hill’s diving catch on a line drive within the eighth.

Jonathan India hit two dwelling runs, Nick Senzel had a three-run shot and the Reds stole 5 bases. They’ve received three in a row and 6 of their previous seven.

This one had particular that means for Kennedy, a 28-year-old who has bounced across the minors since final being within the majors with San Diego in 2018. He started this season because the opening day starter for the Long Island Ducks of the impartial Atlantic League.

“There was a lot of times I thought I might be out of the game,” Kennedy stated Monday. “It feels good for me and my wife and my family and people that believed in me: being able to get back here after stopping at those different places.”

Since his most up-to-date main league sport Sept. 7, 2018, Kennedy pitched in an Arizona rookie league and for groups in El Paso, Worcester and Portland. He joined the Reds group in Louisville in May and received the decision earlier this week to start out on the Fourth of July.

“It means a lot more this time than the first time,” Kennedy stated. “But I think everything happens for a reason, and I feel like everything I had to do made me better and made me ready for where I am now.”

Wearing crimson, white and blue “USA” socks and given loads of offensive assist, Kennedy fared higher Tuesday than Washington starter Patrick Corbin, who allowed six earned runs and 10 hits with three walks in 5 innings.

Some of that was Corbin (5-10) in the midst of an up-and-down yr and a few the center of the Reds order. Cincinnati’s 3-4-5 hitters India, De La Cruz and Spencer Steer mixed to go 7 for 8 in opposition to him.

The Nationals threatened within the sixth, having the go-ahead run on the plate and the bases loaded earlier than Fernando Cruz received two strikeouts and a deep foul fly ball to flee bother. Lucas Sims received out of 1 remaining jam within the ninth for the save and to protect Kennedy’s victory.

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