Gennett didn't display much enthusiasm talking about the voting later in the day before the start of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park. He has the best numbers of any NL second basemen, but he won't be upset if he doesn't win the vote.
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"It's more about the individual," Gennett said, "and that's not what gets me going every day."
With 1,689,393 votes, Gennett trails the Braves' Ozzie Albies by 167,792. That's slightly better than last week when Gennett trailed Albies by 171,757. Gennett passed the Cubs' Javier Baez (1,586,888) this week.
Gennett leads all National League players with a .332 average. He ranks second among second basemen with 54 RBIs. Even if he doesn't win a starting job in the All-Star Game, Gennett could be a manager's selection. He would be a first-time all-star.
"I've got to believe he's going to make it," Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said. "He's just really playing great baseball: on-base percentage, hitting left-handers, hitting home runs, good defense."
Grand time: Through Sunday, there had been 2,859 home runs in baseball this season. According to BaseballReference.com, 74 of them (or .03 percent) were grand slams. The Reds had nine grand slams in 88 home runs (or 10.2 percent).
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In just over half a season, the Reds tied the club's single-season record. The 1997 Atlanta Braves and 2000 St. Louis Cardinals share the National League record for grand slams in a season with 12. The 2000 Oakland A's and 2006 Cleveland Indians share the big-league record with 14.
"It's kind of rare to hit a grand slam," said Reds outfielder Adam Duvall, who has two this season, "and it feels like we've been doing it quite a bit, so that's pretty cool. I don't really know what it is, to be honest."
Hot bat: Jose Peraza's grand slam Sunday gave him three home runs in his last six games. He raised his average to .274 by going 10-for-26 in those games.
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Although Peraza ranks second in the league in most plate appearances per strikeout (9.4) and twice this season has made at least 40 straight plate appearances without striking out, the one stat he needs to improve, Riggleman said, is is his on-base percentage. It stood at .317 through Sunday.
"In another year or two, when he really refines what he's swinging at and what he's taking and that moves to .350," Riggleman said, "you're going to have a heck of a player because he can put the bat on the ball. He gets a lot of hits. He's playing fine defense. He runs the bases. I'm really happy to have him out there."
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