Votto reaches base in club-record 48th straight

PITTSBURGH -- It's not that Joey Votto wasn't cognizant of Reds history or Pete Rose's place in it, but tying one of his records wasn't something the first baseman wanted to relish on a cold, wet Friday night.

Votto reached safely for his 48th straight game, tying Rose's 1978 Reds record.

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"I don't care," Votto said moments following a 6-4 loss to the Pirates in 12 innings that extended Cincinnati's losing streak to 13 games -- the team's longest since 1945.

The record-tying hit came in atypical fashion for Votto -- it was an infield single. With one out against Francisco Liriano and the Reds leading, 2-0, Votto hit a grounder against the shift to third base. Aramis Ramirez had to glove the ball backhanded and fired a late, off-target throw to first base that Votto beat to the bag. It was ruled a hit, and Votto later scored on Jay Bruce's double to give the Reds a 3-0 lead.

Votto's streak is the longest in the Majors since Kevin Millar reached in 52 consecutive games during the 2007 season.

The hit also meant that Votto reached safely for the 316th time, tying his own 2013 club record. When he was hit by a pitch in the 11th inning -- which has happened only five times all season -- he reached for the 317th time to eclipse his '13 mark.

According to TV statistician Joel Luckhaupt, Votto notched another new team record, because that meant he reached base multiple times in a game 106 times this year.

In 156 games played, Votto has reached in 143 of them -- but with two games to play, he will fall short of his club record of 146.

In recent days, Votto has avoided discussing his on-base streak because he has been frustrated by the team's losing streak. Others have appreciated it, however.

"It's been a phenomenal season to watch," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Most of us here have seen all, if not most of his games. It's just something to see, to have such great strike zone command and be able to hit the ball hard to all fields and do what he does. It's been fun to watch, for sure. It would be nice to celebrate some of these great performances with wins at the end of the day."