The Reds and Atlanta Braves were two hot teams when they collided.
Atlanta won its last eight games and the Reds its last 11. The sixth time in Major League history a pair of teams with streaks of eight or more games.
Elly De la Cruz and Joey Votto were hotter.
The Reds roared back from a five-run deficit when De la Cruz turned in the first cycle from a Reds player since Eric Davis in 1989 and Votto had his 19th career multi-home run game in the Reds' 11-10 slugfest in their 12th straight win.
"I can't really put it into words right now," De la Cruz. "I'm happy and excited. It is fortunate Eric Davis is one of the legends of this game and in Cincinnati to. Sure enough he let me wear that jersey number 44 and to be the second one since him to do that, is incredible."
Votto and the sellout fans left the game impressed by the spectacle.
"It starts with the style of play," Votto said. "If I were a customer, a paying fan, this is the kind of team I would sit in the stands and watch live. Truly, the television doesn't do it justice. The game is faster, dirtier. This is the most enjoyable version of baseball, I think I've ever seen. I'm hitting sixth on this team, happily. I get to watch the guys in front of me. I'm not in the way. I get to watch these guys in front of me zoom around the bases. It's not just because of the winning streak either. I'd say that if our record was different."
"It is a really enjoyable experience playing with these guys. When I put my baseball fan hat on. It is the version I'd love to show up too. The Braves on the other side have similar players. I told Acuna today, he was my favorite Major League player."
The Braves jumped on Reds' starter, Luke Weaver, right away. Ronald Acuna Jr, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley all singled for one run. Weaver rallied to get Matt Olson to pop out and struck out Marcell Ozuna but Travis d'Arnaud hit his fifth homer into the right field stands. Weaver walked Eddie Rosario, who went to second on a wild pitch. Orlando Arcia doubled to cap the scoring at five runs.
The Braves starter, AJ Smith-Shawver, a 20-year old started for the Braves.
De la Cruz doubled high off the right center field wall. Jake Fraley launched his 10th home run on a 3-2 pitch to get two of the Reds back in the second inning.
"Elly did it all tonight," Bell said. That double off the wall was one of the hardest balls I've ever seen hit. He showed what he is capable of doing in a big game. It is incredible to do what he did tonight but the best part is he contributed to a big win."
TJ Friedl led off the third inning with a walk then stole second and third. He was 90 feet away when De la Cruz lofted his third home run to cut the Braves lead to 5-4.
David Bell removed Weaver with Michael Harris II on first base and one out. Daniel Duarte entered and picked Harris II off first but Acuna singled for his second hit. Albies struck out.
Votto tied the game with his second home run of the season to straight away center. Smith- Shawver hit Spencer Steer with a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch. After Tyler Stephenson flied to left, Smith-Shawver left the contest. Collin McHugh came in to face Luke Maile, who grounded out to third base. Friedl struck out to keep the game at tied at 5-5.
Matt Olson hit a two-run home run in the fifth off Duarte to put the Braves back in the lead, 7-5. It is Olson's 22nd home run of the season.
McLain and India were hit by McHugh to open the bottom of the fifth. De la Cruz came through again with a broken bat single. Fraley struck out but Votto hit his second home run of the game into the right field stands to put the Reds ahead, 9-7. It is his 19th career multi-home run game.
Ben Heller entered for the Braves. He was the victim of De la Cruz triple.
Ian Gibaut finished a scoreless sixth for Alex Young, who was the winning pitcher. Buck Farmer gave up a single and double with two outs but struck out Orlando Arcia to preserve the four-run lead.
Acuna Jr. hit his 16th home run off Lucas Sims in the eighth. Riley hit his 13th with two outs in the eighth and Olson went back-to-back with his 23rd of the season and second of the game. Olson has 16 multi-home run games. Sims held the lead by striking out three in the inning.
It was a save situation for Alexis Diaz. He needed three outs to earn his 21st save in 21 chances. Dating back to last season he had saved 25 games in a row. He got a double play after walking Rosario to earn the save.
The Reds matched the 1957 team that won 12 games in a row. Manager David Bell's grandfather was a key member of that team.
"My grandfather told me a lot of stories but that team is like ours," Bell said. "They genuinely like each other. That doesn't always happen. They all did things together."
Bell was a part of a Seattle team that won 116 games and had a winning streak of 15 games.
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