Joey Votto hit three home runs yesterday in Cincinnati’s 9-0 win over the Chicago Cubs.

His first came in the bottom of the second, when his solo shot was followed by three more home runs, one each by Adam Dunn, Paul Bako, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. Votto walked and stole second in his next at-bat in the bottom of the third, and in the bottom of the fifth teamed up for back-to-back solo shots with Brandon Phillips. Votto’s two-run homer in the sixth rounded out his performance, which raised his average to .302 and his OPS to .945.

Edinson Volquez turned in a sterling pitching performance for the Reds, going seven shutout innings to give up four hits (and six walks, though), while striking out ten. He improves to 5-1 on the season with a 1.06 ERA and 1.23 WHIP (and, to be fair, a .286 BABIP).