How Will Benson, Joey Votto helped Cincinnati Reds break 67-year-old franchise record
As Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson was about to be interviewed by media in the clubhouse after Saturday's victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, teammates joined the scrum, using their phones for recording devices and peppering him with their own questions.
At which point the Reds' man of the hour, rookie Elly De La Cruz, pushed through the crowd, put his arm around Benson, grabbed the TV mic and asked in perhaps a bit too plain English why Benson hadn't pimped his third-inning home run, with maybe a bat flip or at least a second or two delay to enjoy it.
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"That's (messed) up, man," De La Cruz said as he and the rest of the group laughed in the aftermath of a 8-5 victory that assured this upbeat, upstart, free-wheeling team will get to the All-Star break in first place.
De La Cruz made headlines throughout the baseball world Saturday for his spectacular tour of the bases in the seventh, when he stole second, third and home in the span of two pitches during the same Jake Fraley at-bat.
But Benson, too, played a role in making franchise history Saturday, with that third-inning home run -- marking the 22nd consecutive game the Reds hit at least one home run, breaking a 67-year-old franchise record.
Joey Votto, who has heated up during this two-city road trip, added a second Reds homer, a tying three-run shot in the fourth inning and his fourth home run in five games played during the trip.
The Reds have hit 45 home runs total during the record streak, during which they've gone 17-5.
During the 1956 streak that set the previous record, the Reds hit 41 total -- with current manager David Bell's grandfather, Gus Bell, providing the team's lone homer in the 21st game -- and went 11-10.
So maybe De La Cruz was right. Maybe Benson's homer was worth at least a mini bat flip, maybe even a move like De La Cruz pulled when he hit a 455-foot homer Wednesday night after the Nationals questioned the pre-approved plastic sleeve he uses at the end of his bat handle.
"Next time," Benson said. "I'll stop and point at the knob of my bat."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Benson, Joey Votto power Cincinnati Reds past 67-year-old record
