As Joey Votto just misses history, the Mets walk off the Reds

NEW YORK – Joey Votto had one more chance to make history. 

On Saturday night at Citi Field against the New York Mets, Votto had the opportunity to tie the MLB record by hitting a home run in his eighth consecutive game. He came to bat in the 10th inning with two runners on with a shot to be the hero again.

This time, Votto struck out, and the Mets beat the Reds, 5-4 in 10 innings. Mets right fielder Brandon Drury hit a game-winning single as New York got its eighth walk-off win of the season.

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Since Votto didn’t homer on Saturday, he didn’t tie Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long as the only three players in MLB history to homer in eight consecutive games. Votto still became the second-oldest player in the modern era to homer in seven consecutive games, trailing only Barry Bonds.

Votto nearly got that home run in the eighth inning, but his 377 foot line drive hit off the top of the wall in right field and fell for a single.

It turned out the Reds needed the extra run. While the Reds led by one run at the time, relievers Heath Hembree and Sean Doolittle combined to allow the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth.

Hembree walked second baseman Jeff McNeil to open the inning, and McNeil advanced on a wild pitch. Hembree struck out the next two batters, but Dooltitle came out of the bullpen with two outs to face Mets outfielder Dominic Smith.

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While the left-handed Smith has a .326 batting average against left-handed pitchers this season, Doolittle got the opportunity for the save in the bottom of the ninth. Smith singled in the game-tying run, and the game went to extra-innings.

The Reds had scored their automatic runner in 14 of their 19 extra innings this season, but Votto and outfielder Tyler Naquin both stranded a go-ahead run on third base. 

Then in the bottom of the 10th, Drury got the game-winning hit.