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.
“When you play really good teams, the margin for error is much thinner and you have to play good ball all the way through,” Votto said. “We just came up short today. Just a frustrating loss today. I made mistakes personally that I wish I wouldn't have made because I think they were slight difference makers.”
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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.
While his home run streak started with a soft fly ball that snuck over the wall at Great American Ball Park, it ended with a single that would have gone over the fence in 10 MLB ballparks.
“I had a great time during the stretch because we played so well as a unit,” Votto said. “It has been special and I've enjoyed it. Yeah. I'll probably never do it again, but I had a great time doing it.”
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It turned out the Reds needed the extra run in the eighth. 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, and then Doolittle came out of the bullpen with two outs to face Mets outfielder Dominic Smith.
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.
“We had (Doolittle) ready,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Obviously I know Smith’s splits there, but I just thought that was the best opportunity to win the game right there.”
“It wasn’t as much about the left-right,” Bell said. “When (Doolittle) is pitching well and throwing the ball like he did tonight, he made some outstanding pitches. His velo was way up. It doesn’t matter – left or right – (Doolittle) when he’s at his best can get those guys. That’s really what our bullpen is all about – picking each other up.”
The game headed to extra innings after Smith’s single. 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 on Saturday against the Mets.
Then in the bottom of the 10th, Drury got the game-winning hit. But since the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres also lost on Saturday, the Reds held their ground in the standings with a 55-50 record.
“Every game we play, it seems they’re great games, they’re close games,” Bell said. “Every play matters. They’re a thrill to play in and be a part of. When you lose them, of course there is disappointment. It hurts. Then you absolutely just have to be able to move on quick.”
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