Reds' JJ Bleday hits for cycle in 1st 4 at-bats against D-backs

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.

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

Bleday is just the 11th Cincinnati player to hit for the cycle and first 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.

Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.