"If you wanted to nitpick about Joey Votto's season in 2011, you could point to his .275 batting average in April.

Votto wanted to avoid that this season.

"I tried to make a point in spring training to treat it like April," he said. "I'm usually a slow starter. I'm doing my best to be as focused and intense games as I can. You can kind of - what's the word? - slop through them or just get through them. I tried to make that adjustment a couple of years ago. It's paid off this year."

Votto has a hit in all seven games going into Saturday night's game and was batting .407 with a .485 on-base percentage and .741 slugging percentage.

He was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in the Reds' late 13-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday.

"That doesn't surprise me," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Joey stays after it. The thing about Joey is he doesn't give away at-bats, he doesn't take plays off - close game, blowout game. He's great at concentrating, focusing and doing what he's supposed to do.

"I think Joey more than anybody accepted the responsibility of being MVP. He still not crazy about the amount of attention and fanfare that goes with it."

Votto doesn't see a difference in the approach pitchers have taken against him.

"Not really," he said. "I think they're feeling me out a little more. I don't see much of a difference. I think I've made more of an adjustment."

One adjustment Votto made the other day was taking a step toward the mound against Houston pitcher Brandon Lyon right before swinging. Votto lined a single up the middle."