Votto's third, three homer ties HOFer Bench
By Neil Munro
Canadian Baseball Network
With Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) of the Cincinnati Reds going deep three times it was a good time to look at Canadian who have hit for the cycle and those who have homered three times in a single game as the Reds beat the Phillies 11-2.
Votto homered 412 feet to centre field off Phillies Aaron Harrang in the third and tagged Votto for another solo shot 392 feet to centre in the fifth and homered 380 feet to right off former Blue Jays reliever Dustin McGowan in the seventh.
The three homer game, Votto's third, three-homer game tied him with Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench.
Canadians Hitting for the Cycle
Three players have combined for the cyle four times -- twice from each side of the plate.
Chronological list of Major League Canadian-born batters who have hit for the cycle
| Date | Player | Team | Versus |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 1885 | George Wood | Detroit Wolverines (NL) | Chicago Cubs (NL) |
| April 30, 1887 | Tip O’Neill (1) | St. Louis Brown Stockings (AA) | Cleveland Blues (AA) |
| May 7, 1887 | Tip O’Neill (2) | St. Louis Brown Stockings (AA) | Louisville Colonels (AA) |
| September 3, 2011 | George Kottaras | Milwaukee Brewers (NL) | Houston (NL) |
(x) Number of cycles recorded to that point (if the player recorded more than one)
Canadians Hitting Three Home Runs in a Single Game
Chronological list of Major League Canadian-born batters who have hit three homers in a game
It has been achieved seven times by three players -- each one a left-handed hitter.
| Date | Player | Team | Versus |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 1997 | Larry Walker (1) | Colorado Rockies (NL) | Montreal Expos (NL) |
| April 28, 1999 | Larry Walker (2) | Colorado Rockies (NL) | St. Louis Cardinals (NL) |
| June 25, 2004 | Larry Walker (3) | Colorado Rockies (NL) | Cleveland Indians (AL) |
| July 6, 2007 | Justin Morneau | Minnesota Twins (AL) | Chicago White Sox (AL) |
| May 7, 2008 | Joey Votto (1) | Cincinnati Reds (NL) | Chicago Cubs (NL) |
| May 13, 2012 | Joey Votto (2) | Cincinnati Reds (NL) | Washington Nationals (NL) |
| June 9, 2015 | Joey Votto (3) | Cincinnati Reds (NL) | Philadelphia Phillies (NL) |
(x) Number of 3 HR games recorded to that point (if the player recorded more than one)
