CINCINNATI — Joey Votto placed on the Viking helmet and cape. He felt proper at dwelling.
Votto homered and hit a go-ahead, two-run single in his return to the Reds’ lineup after a 10-month absence that adopted surgical procedure, serving to Cincinnati prolong its longest successful streak in a decade to 9 with a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday evening.
“Long time coming,” Votto mentioned. “Ever since I’ve watched them put it on each other, I was thinking about how badly I want that on me because it’s tied to a winning moment, and that’s exactly — exactly — what this team’s about. This is a different energy than I’ve experienced in years, maybe in my entire career, the way these guys think about themselves and how hard they play. I wanted to be a part of this, We are all a part of this.”
Cincinnati took over the NL Central lead for the primary time since early April, transferring a half-game forward of Milwaukee. The Reds are on their longest successful streak since taking 10 in a row from July 19-29, 2012.
“The energy of our team has been building,” Reds supervisor David Bell mentioned. “It doesn’t surprise me. It impresses me.”
Colorado has misplaced six in a row and 12 of 15.
PHOTOS: Votto homers and had 3 RBIs in return, Reds beat Rockies 5-4 for ninth straight win
Returning 10 months to the day after surgical procedure on his left biceps and rotator cuff, Votto was greeted with a standing ovation when he walked to the plate within the second inning. He took off his helmet and waved to the group, then tapped it towards his coronary heart earlier than lining out to heart.
“The crowd reaction was surprising,” Votto mentioned. “Not to underestimate them, but you don’t expect that. I feel the same way toward them. For them to reciprocate means a great deal to me. It was a memorable experience.”
He drove a first-pitch, belt-high fastball from Austin Gomber (4-7) a couple of dozen rows into the right-field seats for a 3-1 lead within the fifth. After circling the bases on his 343rd dwelling run, Votto emerged from the Reds dugout for a curtain name, sporting the celebratory Viking helmet and cape which have adopted Cincinnati lengthy balls this season.
“I played a long time and here I’m wearing a helmet and a cape,” Votto mentioned. “It’s a team thing and it’s keeping me young. It was a daunting rehab and you have your doubts. I don’t want to be the odd person out. Every day there is someone doing something cool to help the team. If you’re not doing something, you don’t fit in. I just want to fit in.”
Votto had not homered since final Aug. 6 towards Milwaukee’s Jake McGee.
“He just got himself ready,” Bell mentioned. “He has been doing everything to be a part of our team. It meant a lot to our team. He felt a part of this the whole time but now it feels like it is supposed to. He is going to make us better.”
Votto’s two-run single to heart off Jake Bird put the Reds forward 5-4 within the sixth. The 39-year-old, getting back from surgical procedure to restore his left biceps and rotator cuff, had not performed since final Aug. 16. The 2010 NL MVP went 2 for 3 with three RBIs.
“He’s a guy who should be applauded for what he’s done in this city,” Rockies supervisor Bud Black mentioned. “He’s spent his entire career here, which is special in this day and age. That ovation was cool. Joey’s been a great player for a decade-plus. It was great to see the fans of Cincinnati recognize that.”
Alex Young (1-0) walked Mike Moustakas with the bases loaded within the sixth, giving Colorado a 4-3 lead, then retired Jurickson Profar on an inning-ending grounder.
Singles by Moustakas and Profar put runners on the corners with no outs within the ninth, however Alexis Díaz acquired his nineteenth save in 20 probabilities, placing out Randal Grichuk and Ryan McMahon, then retiring Elias Díaz on a game-ending groundout.
“We didn’t put the ball in play in the ninth with some veteran players, against a closer with good stuff,” Black mentioned. “Have to shorten up the swing.”
Colorado dropped to 13-27 on the highway. The Rockies, final within the NL West, are 16-19 at Coors Field.
Kevin Newman homered main off the underside of the primary and Nick Senzel hit a solo homer within the second, his first dwelling run since returning Friday from an IL stint attributable to proper knee irritation.
Elias Diaz hit a solo homer within the fourth off Reds starter Brandon Williamson and added an RBI single throughout a three-run sixth that included Jorge Alfaro’s run-scoring double.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland was scratched from his scheduled begin on Tuesday on account of sickness. … INF Ezequiel Tovar was positioned on the paternity checklist. … INF Connor Kaiser had his contract chosen from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (proper hip ache) was positioned on the 15-day IL. …. RHP Kevin Herget was designated for project.
UP NEXT
RHP Ben Lively (4-4, 4.07) begins towards the Rockies for the primary time Tuesday evening. RHP Noah Davis (0-3, 6.17) is predicted to be recalled from Triple-A to start out for Colorado, which scratched LHP Kyle Freeland (4-8, 4.48) as a result of Black mentioned he was feeling unwell.
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