Votto homers in 7th straight game, Reds beat Mets 6-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night.

Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco's first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury.

It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball's trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September.

Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop until injured buddy Francisco Lindor (oblique) returns.

Williams was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse but could soon be called upon by the Mets as they try to remain atop the NL East without deGrom, who was diagnosed with right arm inflammation following a bullpen session Thursday. DeGrom, who has a 1.08 ERA but hasn’t pitched since July 7, underwent an MRI which revealed no damage.

Votto’s solo homer to center field in the sixth inning extended the Reds’ lead to 3-1. The six-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP, serenaded with chants of “Over-rated!" earlier in the evening, seemed to enjoy a leisurely trot around the bases before he flexed and pointed to the name on the back of his uniform while nearing the Cincinnati dugout.

Votto is the eighth player to homer in at least seven straight...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Votto-homers-in-7th-straight-game-Reds-beat-Mets-16353827.php