Carlos Gonzalez hits 3 home runs vs. Reds

Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez had a spectular game at the plate on Wednesday, hitting three home runs and driving in six runs against the Cincinnati Reds.

Gonzalez hit an opposite-field home run in his first at-bat against starting pitcher Pedro Villarreal. The southpaw lined a 2-2 fastball just over the left-field wall at Great American Ballpark, giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

The outfielder crushed an absolute bomb for his second round-tripper of the night. Villareal grooved an 88-mph meatball right down the middle for Gonzalez, who absolutely punished the pitch, nearly hitting the ball completely out of the ballpark. Eric Young and Nolan Arenado were on base for the Rockies, which helped turn the team's one-run deficit into a 6-4 lead.

Gonzalez's third home run of the night, and 17th of the season, came on a 1-2 Manny Parra breaking ball that simply caught too much of the plate. Gonzalez yanked the ball to right field, driving in Arenado for a second time.

Gonzalez tied a Rockies record for home runs in a single game. Todd Helton was the last Rockies hitter to hit three home runs in a single game, which came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29, 2003 at Coors Field.