CINCINNATI (AP) \u2014 Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run single in the seventh inning to break open a tie game and the Cincinnati Reds went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The Reds won their third in a row while the Rays have lost 12 of their last 15 on the road, including six straight.<\/p>\n
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With the score tied 2-2, De La Cruz’s bloop single off Garrett Cleavinger with the bases loaded put the Reds ahead 4-2.<\/p>\n
Graham Ashcraft (6-4) pitched the seventh for the win and Emilio Pag\u00e1n pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 22nd save.<\/p>\n
Yandy D\u00edaz led off the sixth with his 18th home run to put the Rays ahead 1-0.<\/p>\n
It was one of two hits off Reds starter Andrew Abbott, who walked three and struck out seven in six innings.<\/p>\n
Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, an Indianapolis native who grew up a Reds fan and was facing them for the first time, allowed two runs in six innings, but neither was earned.<\/p>\n
The only hit off Pepiot through 5 1\/3 innings came when left fielder Christopher Morel misjudged De La Cruz\u2019s fly ball in the first, allowing it to sail over his head and bounce into the stands for a ground-rule double.<\/p>\n
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With two outs in the sixth, Austin Hays\u2019 ground ball went under Taylor Walls\u2019 glove for an error, allowing two runs to score and putting the Reds ahead 2-1.<\/p>\n
Bryan Baker (3-4) took the loss.<\/p>\n
Key moment<\/p>\n
Reds manager Terry Francona was ejected in the seventh inning by home plate umpire Willie Traynor for arguing balls and strikes. It was Francona’s 53rd career ejection, third this season.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
Abbott has allowed one earned run or fewer in 14 of his 17 starts this season.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Rays RHP Shane Baz (8-6, 4.66 ERA) faces Reds RHP Brady Singer (7-8, 4.84) in Sunday’s series finale.<\/p>\n
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