Votto homers to reach 1,000 career RBIs

CINCINNATI -- Reds fans wanted Joey Votto to take a curtain call after he hit his 300th career home run earlier this season. On Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park during a 7-5 loss to the Padres, Votto was a man in demand once again after reaching another milestone.

Leading off the bottom of the third inning against Padres starter Joe Musgrove, Votto hit an 0-1 cut fastball to right field for a homer that gave him career RBI No. 1,000. He is the fifth Reds player to reach that plateau since RBIs became an official stat.

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“It’s amazing,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Only the best players that have ever played the game in this franchise and also the history of baseball do that. We get a little bit used to things like that being around Joey, but you shouldn’t because it really signifies him in one more way being one of the best hitters all-time in this organization and in the game of baseball. So, it’s incredible.”

After being greeted by his teammates as fans cheered loudly, Votto ran the length on the inside of the dugout and popped out to acknowledge the fans with a raised helmet. He also did a “dab” to offer his respect.

Votto, 37, is closing in on Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (1,009 RBIs) for fourth on the franchise’s all-time list. Pete Rose is third with 1,036, while Hall of Famer Tony Perez is second with 1,192. Johnny Bench, another Hall of Fame member, is Cincinnati’s all-time leader with 1,376.

This season, Votto has a slash line of .254/.332/.464 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 50 games this season. Over his past eight games, he is batting .344 with two homers.

Votto hit his 300th homer on April 30 vs. the Cubs. After his 2-for-3 game Wednesday, which included a first-inning double, Votto has 1,954 career hits. He could become only the second Major League player to ever record his 2,000th hit, 300th home run and 1,000th RBI in the same season. Billy Williams did it for the Cubs in 1971.