Reds get 3-run homer from De La Cruz and outlast Cardinals 7-6 in 11 innings to split doubleheader

CINCINNATI (AP) — Spencer Steer scored the winning run in the 11th inning with a headfirst slide on Blake Dunn's one-hopper to shortstop, and the Cincinnati Reds outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 to split their day-night doubleheader Saturday.

Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer and Nathaniel Lowe launched a two-run shot as Cincinnati took a 5-1 lead in the fifth. But the Cardinals scored twice in the ninth and tied it 6-all on a two-out RBI single by Jordan Walker, who started the comeback with a three-run homer in the sixth.

Steer was the automatic runner in the 11th and he advanced from second to third on a sacrifice bunt by P.J. Higgins. After a walk to Dane Myers put runners at the corners, Dunn sent a one-hopper up the middle.

With the infield playing in, strong-armed shortstop Masyn Winn made a lunging stop to his left and a spinning throw to the plate, where catcher Yohel Pozo scooped the ball on a short hop. But he couldn't get his tag back down in time to get Steer, and a replay review upheld the safe call.

Dunn was credited with an RBI on a fielder's choice. He also prevented the go-ahead run from scoring in the top of the inning with a sliding catch in shallow right field.

In the opener, Bryan Torres hit a two-run homer and singled in his major league debut to help the Cardinals win 8-1.

De La Cruz clocked his 12th home run of the year in the nightcap, and Lowe homered in both ends of the twinbill.

Myers added a pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth to put the Reds up 6-4.

Pierce Johnson (2-1) pitched two perfect innings for the win after Tony Santillan squandered a two-run lead in the ninth, his third blown save this season. Pinch-hitter José Fermín homered to bring the Cardinals within one before Walker’s single tied it.

Riley O’Brien (3-2) took the loss despite getting four outs without giving up a hit.

The Reds earned their first win in a game started by someone other than Chase Burns or Andrew Abbott since April 25. They are 2-10 in division play.

Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.70 ERA) faces RHP Brady Singer (2-4, 6.26) in the series finale Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run homer during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker runs to third base during the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds from left, Dane Myers, Blake Dunn, Elly de la Cruz, and TJ Friedl, celebrate Blake Dunn's walk off single to score Spencer Steer to win in the eleventh inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Home plate umpire John Tumpane calls Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer, right, safe as he dives into home plate to score the game winning run on a single hit by Blake Dunn as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo, center, follows with the late tag in the eleventh inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Home plate umpire John Tumpane looks on as Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer, right, is safe as he dives into home plate to score the game winning run on a single hit by Blake Dunn as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo, center, follows with the late tag in the eleventh inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MILAN (AP) — Norwegian cyclist Fredrik Dversnes claimed the biggest victory of his career as he won the 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, while Jonas Vingegaard remained in the overall lead heading into the final week.

Dversnes won from a four-man breakaway that escaped early on the flat 157-kilometer (98-mile) route that started in Voghera and ended with four laps of the finishing circuit in Milan.

The Uno-X Mobility rider edged out his fellow escapees by almost a bicycle length, with Mirco Maestri finishing second and Martin Marcellusi third.

It is the first Giro for Dversnes and his team.

“Super good help from the other guys in the breakaway … They were really, really strong today,” Dversnes said. "I knew I had good opportunities because I’m pretty good at going in breakaways, so this was my big shot.

“I’ve been joking this year that I will try to trick the peloton in one of these sprint stages, so I really wanted to do that and prove that, so super glad to make it. It's big. It’s a really big and incredible feeling.”

Vingegaard, who had seized control of the race on Saturday, finished safely in the peloton to maintain his overall advantage of 2:26 over Afonso Eulálio, with Felix Gall 24 seconds further back.

The race jury decided to neutralize Sunday's stage for the last lap after several riders — including Vingegaard — complained about the road surface and the placing of the barriers. The overall times were taken at the last passage under the finish arch, before the start of the last lap.

“Maybe today was not the most safe road, so to speak, but we tried to speak with the organization and they really listened to us,” Vingegaard said. “So I want to thank the organization as well for listening to what we had to say today.”

Monday sees the Giro’s third and final rest day before Tuesday’s brutal 16th stage. The 113-kilometer route from Bellinzona includes five classified climbs, including the top-category slog to the finish in Carì.

The Giro ends on May 31 in Rome.

The women’s Giro from May 30-June 7 will be defended by Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wears the pink jersey of the race overall leader as he stands on the podium after completing the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik, left, celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Pink jersey Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, center, pedals during Stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

The pack of riders pedals during the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wearing the pink jersey of the race overall leader, waves to fans ahead of the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)