Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz got a measure of revenge Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the American Family Field scoreboard operator, with his 456-foot home run in the third inning.
The distance, measured by Statcast, may actually be farther, as it cleared the stadium’s glass panels in right-center field.
De La Cruz led off the game with a deep drive to center field where the Brewers’ Joey Wiemer made a jumping catch to rob him of a homer.
When De La Cruz came back up to bat in the third, the Milwaukee scoreboard listed under player trivia: “Almost hit a home run in the first inning…but didn’t”
What followed was a tape measure shot off of Brewers pitcher Colin Rea that scored Tyler Stephenson and gave the Reds a 2-1 lead.
How did that trolling on the scoreboard go over in the Reds’ dugout? De La Cruz and Reds manager David Bell weren’t aware of it until after the game.
Bell told reporters he didn’t see it.
“I have seen that they have a good sense of humor on the board, but I wasn’t looking tonight. I have seen it over the years playing here.”
“Obviously, no-doubter,” Bell added of the homer. “I mean he got all of it. At the time, we’re just so focused on scoring some runs and taking a lead like that, so it was a big home run in the game. But taking a step back and really thinking about how quickly that ball got out of the ballpark is very special.”
Said De La Cruz through team interpreter Jorge Merlos: “No. No I haven’t heard yet. Interesting. Something like that I guess. One’s just doing his own job to get something done.
