By Hal McCoy
The Cincinnati Reds should board an elevator in the downtown Carew Tower, scramble off at the 47th-floor Observation deck and shout over the edge, “We did it, we did it, we did it.”
What they did, finally did, was win a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, a task for them that was as difficult as the Theory of Relativity.
The Brewers had won 12 straight series against the Reds, nine straight in Great American Ball Park and 16 of the last 18.
By winning Sunday afternoon’s game in GABP, 12-8, a game that set baseball back 50 years, the Reds won two out of three.
There were 20 walks issued, 10 by each team, and an abundance of on-the-field blunders.
The Reds, though, will take it — their third straight two out of three series wins against MLB’s best teams — the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and the Brewers.
And a good time was had by almost all (well, JJ Bleday went 0 for 5), especially Elly “Birdman” De La Cruz.
Not only did he reach base his first five plate appearances that produced a two-run homer and a two-run double, he became the samaritan of the game.
In the top of the fourth inning, a wounded pigeon flapped and flopped around the first base line. De La Cruz rushed from the dugout, swooped up the pigeon and lovingly carried it to the dugout in cupped hands.
His reward came in the bottom of the fourth when he crushed a 402-foot two-run home run into the right field seats to give the Reds a 6-3 lead.
And when the Brewers barged back to tie it, 6-6, De La Cruz ripped a two-run double to left center in the fifth inning to give the Reds an 8-6 lead they never relinquished. . .barely.
In addition to De La Cruz’s offensive eruption, Dane Myers continued to show all the appitudes needed for a leadoff hitters. He was on base five times with two hits, two walks, an error and scored two runs.
And the bottom of the order — Matt McLain, Juan Brito and Hector Rodriguez — were a combined 7 for 13 with seven runs scored.
With De La Cruz displaying how to be a designated hitter, McLain played shortstop and was on base twice and scored both times.
Newly-acquired Juan Brito played second base and was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Hector Rodriguez chased down a bundle of hard-hit balls in right field and contributed three hits, scored two and drove in one.
The Reds put their leadoff batter on base every time in the first five innings and all five scored.
For the series, De La Cruz was 7 for 13 with two homers, a double, six RBI and three runs scored, lifting his batting average to .280.
And the designated hitter role?
“If it’s gonna be like that (Sunday), I’ll take it,” he said with a broad smile.
About finally winning a series against the Brewers, which he and most of the current Reds never had done, De La Cruz said, “It feels really good because that’s a really good team.
“We play to win and we’ve won three straight series against really good teams,” he added. “There’s a really good feeling in the dugout and clubhouse right now.”
De La Cruz said he has experienced bird rescuing in his native Dominican Republic, but this was a first in the U.S.
“It was a little bird and I think she was hurt,” he said. “So I just go and grab her without hurting her more. I have helped a lot of birds — but not here, though.”
Then he went out on the field and hurt the Brewers.
In his previous start, Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison (10-4) was ravaged by the Chicago Cubs — 3 2/3 innings, nine runs, 10 hits, three walks.
The Reds nearly matched it over the same 3 2/3 innings, six runs (four earned), nine hits and four walks. The Reds jumped on him for a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Up to that point, the Brewers play was not nearly as exciting as a Monopoly tournament. Reds starter Brady Singer held them hitless until he had one out in the fourth.
He issued a walk to Christian Yelich and after a fielder’s choice Jake Bauers banged the first Brewers’ hit, a 408-foot two-run homer.
Garrett Mitchell folowed with a triple and scored on Cooper Pratt’s bunt on which Singer threw away for an error.
That made it 4-3, but De La Cruz made it 6-3, the Brewers tied it, 6-6, and De La Cruz made it 8-6.
Singer (6-13) issued a career-high six walks along with six runs on only four hits, but the Reds’ offense got him the win.
The Reds led 12-7 entering the ninth and, of couse, the Brewers wouldn’t go away. Pierce Johnson started the inning by retiring Jackson Chourio.
Then he issued two walks and Bo Naylor, hitting .130, singled for a run to make it 12-8. Johnson retired Pratt for the second out. But the Brewers had runners on third and second.
That force Reds manager Tito Francona to bring in closer Emilio Pagan and he ended it by coaxing a ground ball from pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez for Pagan’s 22nd save.
While De La Cruz had the most fun, with Myers a close second, Eugenio Suarez had fun afoot.
Suarez’s speed wouldn’t get him stopped in a school zone, but he scored from second on a wild pitch during Saturday’s game.
On Sunday, he scored from first on Brito’s double to center and in the fourth he stole second after drawing a walk, his first theft for the Reds since 2020.
That prompted him to ask De La Cruz in the dugout, “Do you want to race?”
If it were a 100-yard race, Suarez would need a 50-yard head start.