CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a homerun and RBI single to lead the Reds in their return to action after a 10-month absence from surgery, helping Cincinnati extend its longest hitting streak in a decade to 5-9. – 4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Cincinnati is on its best streak since hitting 10 straight from July 19-29, 2012, starting a half-game behind center leader Milwaukee.
Colorado has lost six in a row and 12 of 15.
Votto, returning 10 months after left-handed leg and rotation surgery, received a standing ovation as he walked to home plate in the second. He took off his helmet, waved to the crowd, then pumped his heart out before hitting a line drive up the middle.
He hit the first pitch, a fastball off Austin Comber (4-7), and sent a dozen lines to right-field for a 3-1 lead in the fifth. After walking the bases with his 343rd career home run, Votto stepped out of the dugout for the curtain call wearing a celebratory Vikings cap and helmet following Cincinnati’s longest streak this season. He hasn’t homered since Aug. 6 against Milwaukee’s Jake McGee.
For the Rockies, Venezuelan Elias Diaz went 5-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Colombian Jorge Alfaro scored a run to make it 3-2.
Dominican Ellie de la Cruz scored a run on the red team to make it 4-1.
