Jeff Dean/Getty
CINCINNATI — If the Cubs were going to have Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz on the bases, catching him in between first and second on a pickoff was the best possible scenario.
For a moment, that was where they stood, with first baseman Michael Busch ready to throw and second baseman David Bote in position to make the tag.
Then the reality of De La Cruz’ speed came crashing down. Busch’s throw on line, but he bounced it, and Bote came out of his crouch to field it, giving De La Cruz the split second he needed to dive around the tag.