Votto calls shot; Reds first baseman finding game

TORONTO –– Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto took a moment between pitches in the top of the eighth inning of a tie game against the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday.

“Joey turned around, looked at us and said, ‘Homer,’ ” Reds right fielder Tyler Naquin said after the game.

Votto then crushed a 346-foot line drive that hit the banner of the second deck in right field at the Rogers Centre. Playing in what might be his last game in his hometown, he led the Reds to a 3-2 win.

Although Votto has called his shot before, he has never had a stretch like this in his 16-year career. Entering Sunday’s game, he was hitting .134 without a home run all season.

On top of that, Votto got sick and missed two weeks. During that time, he couldn’t get hitting out of his head.

“I was striking out a lot earlier in the season. That’s not really my style,” Votto said. “I know there’s going to be a bit of a give-and-take when I start leaning into power, leaning into stretching the ball, hitting the ball harder. But it was uncharacteristic to have no power and a whole bunch of strikeouts. Now, I feel like I have more control over the ball. I feel like I can make contact at will.”

In his first two games back, Votto showed signs he was figuring it out. He had doubles on Friday and Saturday. And in his first at-bats Sunday, Votto took two of his best swings of the season, even though both resulted in outs.

“He starts carrying himself different when he knows he’s really close,” Bell said. “He felt really close all day. The two fly balls, maybe he just missed them. And then it happened.”

What happened was something most of the longer-tenured Reds players have seen before.

“I’ve never seen someone call their shot more,” Farmer said. “You can feel it happening, and it happens.”

On Sunday, it was Naquin’s turn to witness Votto’s ability to predict success.

“He told me he was going to hit it, and he hit it,” Naquin said. “It’s what Joey does.”

Votto’s reaction after crossing home plate matched the moment. He borrowed a celebration from Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino, waving his hands and sticking out his tongue.