Reds manager furious that Nats' Madson intentionally hit now-injured Votto

On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds were forced to put first baseman Joey Votto on the 10-day disabled list for a leg injury that has ailed the superstar for nearly two weeks.

The right leg contusion originated when Washington Nationals reliever Ryan Madson hit Votto with a pitch back on Aug. 4 in the second game of a doubleheader.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

"Madson could easily make a case 'I didn't hit him on purpose.' We know very well he did," Reds manager Jim Riggleman told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. "It infuriates me that he will never have to go to the plate (and) be thrown at. He never will."

It was the second time of the game Votto had been hit by a pitch after wearing one in the first inning from Jeremy Hellickson. In the sixth inning, Reds' Austin Brice hit Bryce Harper with a 1-1 pitch and, in the seventh, Jesus Reyes hit Spencer Kieboom in a 1-0 count.

When Votto got drilled in the legs in the eighth, tempers flared, and Votto was visibly upset with Madson. No one was ejected and no further punishment from the league was imposed.

Votto wound up sitting out as a starter in the following game, but pinch hit in the ninth inning. In the eight games since getting hit by Madson, Votto has posted an underwhelming .227/.379/.273 slash line with one double and six strikeouts. The 34-year-old finished second in NL MVP voting last season, and leads the league in on-base percentage for the third consecutive year.