Reds rookie makes history with three more home runs against Cubs

The 25-year-old rookie outfielder from the Dominican Republic hit home runs in his first three at-bats — in the second, third and fourth innings — on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. He’s the first player in Reds history to hit seven home runs in his first 10 games in the big leagues. No player had hit more than four in the same span.

Aquino played in one game last season and has made nine appearances this season. He started his fifth straight game Saturday in the third game of a four-game series against the Cubs at Great American Ball Park.

Aquino became the second Reds player this season — Derek Dietrich was the other — to hit three home runs in a game and the 29th in franchise history. He became the second player in the live-ball era and first since Trevor Story, according to Major League Baseball, to hit seven home runs in his first 10 games.

Aquino hit two home runs on the three pitches he saw from Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. He has homered in four straight appearances. That’s one game shy of the Reds record for consecutive appearances with at least one home run. Eight players in Reds history have homered in five straight games, most recently Eugenio Suarez in July 2018.

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With his first three at-bats Saturday, Aquino raised his average to .481. The Reds built a 9-0 lead, scoring in each of the first four innings as they tried to climb within six games of the Cubs in the National League Central Division. Nick Senzel and Eugenio Suarez also hit home runs in the first four innings.

Aquino hit a two-run home run in the first inning Friday in a game the Reds won 5-3.