Reds’ Bleday hits for cycle in 1st 4 at-bats against Diamondbacks

PHOENIX (AP) — JJ Bleday of the Cincinnati Reds hit for the cycle Saturday night in his first four at-bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cincinnati left fielder doubled in the first inning, tripled in the third and singled in the fourth. He homered to right on the first pitch from Arizona’s Zack Littell in the sixth inning, giving the Reds an 8-2 lead.

It was the eighth cycle in franchise history dating to 1890. Bleday is the first Cincinnati player to hit for a cycle since Elly De La Cruz on June 23, 2023, against Atlanta.

There were three previous cycles in the majors this year — Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs, the Phillies’ Bryce Harper and the most recent one, by Tristan Peters of the White Sox on July 10.

The home run was Bleday’s 21st of the season, topping his previous career high of 20 with the Athletics in 2024.