Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Elly De La Cruz star in Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts' win
Christian Encarnacion-Strand had two hits and two walks in his Chattanooga Lookouts' debut, and Elly De La Cruz's two-hit game included an inside-the-park home run in an 8-5 win against the Birmingham Barons on Friday.
Encarnacion-Strand, acquired earlier this week from the Minnesota Twins in a trade at the deadline for starting pitcher Tyler Mahle, batted fourth and played designated hitter after being assigned to Chattanooga earlier in the day. Shortstop De La Cruz, promoted last month to the Reds' Double-A affiliate, appeared to have a triple in the 5th inning but caught the Barons' defense off guard when he decided to advance to home plate.
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Social media reactions to De La Cruz's inside-the-park homer, including video:
Scouts talk up Elly De La Cruz's baseball IQ and this is one example. https://t.co/AGAyHLTaMQ
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 6, 2022
Settle for a triple? Elly De La Cruz wanted four bases.
The No. 3 #Reds prospect pulled off an electric inside-the-park homer for Double-A Chattanooga: https://t.co/er4nf2k34b pic.twitter.com/z5cI6oBnBl— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 6, 2022
ALWAYS be alert when Elly De La Cruz is on the basepaths.
The third-ranked @Reds prospect uses some heads-up baserunning to notch an inside-the-park home run for the @ChattLookouts. pic.twitter.com/Vax5KZON69— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 6, 2022
Elly De La Cruz is definitely capable of driving the baseball over the fence.
But he can also put a homer in the books when the ball stays in the yard.
Check out the @Reds' No. 3 prospect using his wheels -- and his noggin -- for the @ChattLookouts. pic.twitter.com/KYNDhCixMk— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 6, 2022
Mahle made his Twins debut Friday night, allowing three home runs but completing six innings in Minnesota's 10-inning win against Toronto.
Earlier this week, right-handed pitcher Levi Stoudt, acquired by the Reds from the Seattle Mariners in the Luis Castillo trade last week, impressed in his debut for the Lookouts, allowing just two hits with no walks while striking out six in five shutout innings against the Barons.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Elly De La Cruz star in Chattanooga win