While the name would suggest that an announcer jinx is a bad thing, that’s not always the case. During Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins, the Cincinnati Reds and their fans saw an announcer jinx from play-by-play man John Sadak work like a charm.
Nursing a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning, Cincinnati had the chance to blow the game open when Elly De La Cruz came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Just before the first offering from Minnesota pitcher Jorge Alcalá, Sadak noted that De La Cruz had yet to hit a grand slam.
That would not be true for long. De La Cruz drilled the first pitch he saw from Alcalá over the right field wall. The shortstop knew the ball was out as soon as it was hit. So did Sadak.
“Elly De La Cruz does not yet have a grand slam in his career — first pitch — high fly. He does now,” Sadak exclaimed. “The first granny for Elly De La Cruz.”
“Elly De La Cruz does not yet have a grand slam in his career — first pitch, HIGH FLY, HE DOES NOW. THE FIRST GRANNY FOR ELLY DE LA CRUZ.”
– John Sadak on the call a brutally efficient (and in this case, fortuitous) announcer jinx.pic.twitter.com/wDWuqWfBLv
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2024
Sadak, calling the game for the Reds on Bally Sports Ohio, went on to note the historic nature of De La Cruz’s longball, his 24th of the year.
“The Reds shortstop dynamo outright sets the Reds single-season record for homers by a switch hitter. In the seventh inning, it’s seventh heaven thanks to De La Cruz. A 7-1 lead for the Redlegs.”
[Photo Credit: Cincinnati Reds on YouTube]
