Reds' Joey Votto homers in return to lineup after 10-month absence

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Joey Votto homered and hit a go-ahead, two-run single in his return to the Reds' lineup after a 10-month absence that followed an operation to repair his left biceps and rotator cuff, helping Cincinnati to a 5-4 win over Colorado that boosted the team into the NL Central lead.

The 39-year-old hit sixth and played first base Monday night in the first big league game since Aug. 16. The 2010 NL MVP hit a 104.4 mph lineout to center in the second inning, then drove a first-pitch, belt-high fastball from Austin Gomber in the fifth. The 102 mph drive landed about a dozen rows into the right-field seats and put the Reds ahead 3-1.

After circling the bases on his 343rd home run, Votto emerged from the Reds dugout for a curtain call, wearing a celebratory Viking helmet and cape. He had not homered since last Aug. 6 against Milwaukee's Jake McGee.

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Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto acknowledges fans after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Cincinnati, Monday, June 19, 2023.  (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

"Long time coming," Votto said. "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."

Votto's two-run single to center off Jake Bird, grounded at 108.7 mph, put the Reds ahead 5-4 in the