Joey Votto belted three of Cincinnati's seven home runs in a 9-0 shutout of the visiting Chicago Cubs.

Votto's first jack of the afternoon was the first of four off Cubs starter Jon Lieber in a five-run second inning. Adam Dunn, Paul Bako and Jerry Hairston Junior followed.

The 38-year-old Lieber was making his first start of the season after eight relief appearances. He drops to 2-and-2 on the year while becoming only the second pitcher in Cubs history to give up four homers in one frame.

The second-inning explosion took a load off starter Edinson Volquez, who pitched seven innings of four-hit ball to raise his record to 5-and-1.

The seven homers were Cincinnati's most since it hit a National League-record nine at Philadelphia on September 4th of 1999. Votto became the 23rd Reds player to hit three in a game and the first since Aaron Boone on May 8th of 2003.