Reds slugger Joey Votto doubles despite Cubs' 4-man outfield shift

— -- CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs used an unusual alignment for Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, employing four outfielders across the Wrigley Field grass on Monday night.

As Votto came to the plate in the top of the fifth inning of Chicago's 15-5 rout of Cincinnati, usual third baseman Kris Bryant moved to left-center field, with left fielder Kyle Schwarber playing near the foul line. Jon Jay remained in center, with Jason Heyward in right field.

The left side of the infield was vacant, as shortstop Javier Baez played up the middle.

Votto beat the alignment by doubling to right field. It's the first time the Cubs have employed that look since Joe Maddon took over as manager in 2015, although Maddon says he has employed this shift before while managing the? Rays.

"Joey Votto right now is ungodly," Maddon said. "Whatever you do you're taking chances anyhow. It's almost like [Padres legend] Tony Gwynn when he was good.

"We'll continue to throw it out there when we think it's the right thing to do."

Jay, who had three hits with an RBI and finished a home run shy of the cycle as the Cubs extended their NL Central lead to 1 1/2 games over idle St. Louis, said it was the first time he was part of a shift to a four-man outfield.

"That's kind of cool. Its smart," he said, although he conceded that "communication can get a little dicey out there."