Votto exits with bloody chin after taking throw to face

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto left Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning after being hit in the face by a throw from outfielder Tommy Pham.

As Votto rounded first on a bloop double, Pham made a hard throw to second base that caught the Reds infielder in the face as he tried to slide safely into second.

Votto could be seen bleeding heavily from his chin following the impact, but ran off the field under his own power after being tended to by trainers.

The 2010 NL MVP needed stitches to close his chin.

"He has a big cut and a gash and I think took seven stitches to close on his chin," Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters after the game. "He really wanted to stay in and there was just no way to close the injury on the field. So he had to come out."

Coming into Thursday's contest, Votto was slashing .324/.435/.545 with 28 home runs in 155 games for the Reds.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)