Joey Votto showed why he should get a day off every two months this past week by demolishing the opposing pitchers. And he was awarded with the National League Player of the Week Award.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of July 25-31, 2011. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In seven games last week, Votto hit .385 (10-for-26) and led the National League with 24 total bases. The reigning N.L. MVP tied for the league lead in home runs (4), RBI (9) and runs scored (7) for the week, and ranked second in slugging percentage (.923) while posting a .467 on-base percentage. Votto collected hits in every game that he started during the week after going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter on Monday, July 25th. He had four multi-hit performances and three multi-RBI games during the week. The Canadian-born All-Star clubbed home runs in three straight games from July 26th-28th, marking the second time in his career that he has homered in three consecutive contests (previously September 3-5, 2008). Votto doubled and scored a run in Cincy’s 7-2 victory on Saturday, July 30th over the visiting Giants. In Sunday’s matchup, the 27-year-old homered, doubled twice and collected four RBI en route to a 9-0 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Champions. Votto currently leads the N.L. in walks (74) and on-base percentage (.428), and has the league’s fourth-best batting average (.319). This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the week of September 21-27, 2009.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Votto’s Cincinnati teammate Johnny Cueto (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 11 SO); Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder (.450, 2 HR, .800 SLG) and John Axford (0.00 ERA, 4 SV, 6 SO, 7.1 IP); Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman (.500, 15 H, .529 OBP) and Brandon Beachy (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.1 IP, 6 SO); David Freese (.381, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG) and Albert Pujols (.355, 2 HR, 11 H, 5 2B) of the Cardinals; San Diego’s Jesus Guzman (.429, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG); Philadelphia’s Raul Ibañez (.296, 3 HR, 9 RBI); Matt Kemp (.417, 2 HR, 9 RBI) of the Dodgers; Arizona’s Justin Upton (.348, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, .957 SLG) and Joe Saunders (2-0, 1.62 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 SO); David Wright (.467, 14 H, 6 RBI) of the Mets; and Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (2-0, 2.19 ERA, 12.1 IP, 8 SO).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Joey Votto will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

Enjoy that watch, Joey!