Votto slugs way to NL Player of the Week honors

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday after hitting a Major League-high .583 last week.

Votto, 29, also led the NL with a .655 on-base percentage, while his .917 slugging percentage ranked second. He tied for second with 14 hits and was third with 22 total bases.

Votto hit two home runs and had five RBIs last week, producing five multihit games to extend his hitting streak to eight entering Monday's series opener against the Mets.

"Joey is going to have those streaks because he demands perfection and has been working hard to get to this point," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "When he's right, Joey Votto is one of the best there is."

Votto was a big part of the Reds' success last week as they went 4-2. He began the week going 3-for-4 against the Marlins before finishing with a big weekend series against the Phillies.

Votto reached base in all six of his plate appearances on Saturday, going 4-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBIs. He went 2-for-4 on Friday, hitting the game-tying homer in the eighth inning of an eventual 5-3 loss.

"I took several good swings in Philadelphia," Votto said after Saturday's win. "I was missing quite a bit before that, hitting the ball to the opposite-field line. I wasn't able to be as direct as I'd like to be. I've had a few really good swings. Hopefully that's a trend headed in the right direction for me."

It is the third weekly award for Votto, who entered action Monday leading the Majors with a .473 OBP and 37 walks.

Reds right-hander Homer Bailey was also considered for the award for his two sterling outings last week. Bailey went the distance and struck out 10 in a 6-2 win against Miami on Tuesday and tossed seven shutout innings against the Phillies on Sunday.