Joey Votto continues his storybook week with another homer as the Reds beat the Mets
NEW YORK –– Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has hit home runs in Cincinnati, in Chicago and in New York. He has homered in the first inning, the second, the fifth and the sixth.
He has homered in the day, and he has homered at night. He has homered to left and center and right.
The 15-year veteran is having a storybook week.
Votto homered again on Friday night against the New York Mets, and he set a franchise record by homering in seven straight games. As the Reds beat New York, 6-2, Votto delivered a 423 foot home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning.
Votto became the eighth player in MLB history to hit a home run in seven consecutive games. He’s now one home run away from tying the MLB record of eight straight games with a home run.
Votto already had a historic series at Wrigley Field this week, hitting six home runs and 10 RBI in the four-game series. Votto homered again on Friday against the New York Mets, and the Reds dugout reacted in disbelief.
Left fielder Jesse Winker put his leg over the rail when Votto made contact and left the dugout to meet Votto after he crossed home plate. As other players stood at the top of the dugout with dropped jaws, Votto went through his typical post-home run handshakes with the hitters behind him in the batting order.
When Votto went back up to the plate in the eighth inning, he earned his loudest boos of the night from the New York crowd.
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Votto now has 21 homers in 75 games in 2021 and would be on pace to hit 45 homers over 162 games. This week, Votto had already set a club record for most home runs over a six-game span. He kept the magic going on Friday with his ninth home run in his last seven games.
Starting pitcher Sonny Gray allowed just one run and bounced back from two of his worst starts of the year. Gray had allowed 13 runs in his last two starts, and he allowed the first three Mets hitters to reach base and score a run.
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After a first inning mound visit, Gray didn’t allow a run the rest of his start as he pitched six innings. Votto’s home run gave the Reds a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning, and then the Reds new-look bullpen secured the win.
Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen, who was activated off the injured list earlier in the day, pitched a scoreless seventh. Recent trade acquisition Mychal Givens pitched a scoreless eighth, and Amir Garrett closed the game in the ninth.