TORONTO — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz joined a select group Wednesday night by stealing his MLB-leading 60th base of the year, making him the fifth Major League Baseball player since 1901 to have at least 20 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a single season.
De La Cruz stole third base in the fifth inning and later came home to score the tying run in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Reds ultimately overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Blue Jays 11-7.
“That’s us,” De La Cruz said. “We never give up. Down six, it doesn’t matter. We fight until the last out.”
After striking out in his first at-bat of the game, De La Cruz reached base four times, including his 22nd homer of the season with a solo shot off Zach Pop in the eighth inning.
“It’s unbelievable what he can do day in and day out,” Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson said.