MILWAUKEE – Both of the Cincinnati Reds stars who were hurt in the series finale over the weekend in Pittsburgh were cleared to play after medical evaluations Monday, June 29 before the Reds opened their next series in Milwaukee.
That included two-time All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who twisted his ankle breaking from the box during an at-bat in the Pittsburgh game but remained in the game and was able to finish after having it taped during an eighth-inning rain delay.
De La Cruz, who played through a quad injury much of the second half last year, was back in the lineup, leading off and batting as the designated hitter for the opener of this week’s four-game series against the Brewers.
“He’s mad about (being DH), so he must be feeling pretty good,” manager Terry Francona joked.
De La Cruz showed his fitness quickly, slugging his 13th homer of the season in the fifth inning, the two-run shot giving the Reds a 3-0 lead.
The injury that looked potentially more severe June 28 was the swollen wrist of All-Star slugger Eugenio Suárez, who exited after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning.
A CT scan the next morning was clear, and Suárez was walking around the clubhouse pregame, upbeat and fist-bumping people with his bruised hand (albeit, covered in a hard protective brace).
“It’s really good,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
Suárez took swings in the cage and fared well, but Francona gave him the night off.
“He wanted to try to talk himself into playing,” Francona said, “which was great news.
“We dodged a bullet there.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds ‘dodged a bullet’ with Eugenio Suárez, Elly De La Cruz injuries
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
