Reds surge minus star

When Joey Votto had knee surgery, the Cincinnati Reds faced a turning point. An offense that had been so-so was going to have to get along without its best hitter for about a month.

How have the Reds responded? With one of the best surges in franchise history.

The Reds had a 10-game win streak snapped on Monday against visiting San Diego. It’s only the eighth time in club history that they’ve won 10 straight.

At 61-41, they have the second-best record in the majors behind Washington (61-40). And it hasn’t been a matter of one or two players getting hot.

“Every man on the roster has done an absolutely great job,” outfielder Jay Bruce said. “Everyone understands their role and has embraced it and is doing whatever they can, and it’s really showing.”

The offense has come around without Votto, going 11-3 since an MRI exam found torn cartilage in his left knee that required surgery. He’s expected to miss about a month overall.

While Votto worked on the leg, the Reds have opened a three-game lead over Pittsburgh and a seven-game lead over defending World Series champion St. Louis in the N.L. Central.

The starting rotation has been solid all season. The Reds are the only team in the majors that has used only five starters to date. The bullpen has overcome the loss of closer Ryan Madson, with Aroldis Chapman becoming nearly unhittable in the ninth inning.

The offense was the most glaring weakness before Votto got hurt, forcing Baker to juggle his lineup to compensate for the loss of the No. 3 hitter. Brandon Phillips moved into the that spot and has batted .383 with two homers.

He’s not alone. Drew Stubbs has batted .333 with three homers and 13 RBIs, earning co-N.L. Player of the Week honors on Monday with Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez. Ryan Ludwick has batted .342 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

Morales doubles up

Los Angeles Angels switch-hitter Kendrys Morales homered from both sides of the plate in the same inning Monday night, making him the third player in major league history to accomplish the feat.

Morales connected for a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the sixth as a lefty off Texas starter Roy Oswalt. Morales then hit a grand slam off Robbie Ross that capped a nine-run inning.

Carlos Baerga of Cleveland homered from each side in the same inning in 1993. Mark Bellhorn did it for the Chicago Cubs in 2002.

Around the league

The Pirates traded pitcher Brad Lincoln to the Blue Jays for outfielder Travis Snider … The Braves boosted their rotation and added a right-handed bat to their bench by acquiring left-hander Paul Maholm and outfielder Reed Johnson from the Cubs. Atlanta is sending right-handed pitchers Arodys Vizcaino, a top prospect who had season-ending Tommy John surgery in April, and Jaye Chapman to the Cubs.