Phillies' Bourjos finding his groove at the plate
Peter Bourjos started June with a .199 batting average. His major-league future, the rightfielder thought, was in question.
Peter Bourjos started June with a .199 batting average. His major-league future, the rightfielder thought, was in question.
Bourjos responded by batting .410 (25 for 61) in 24 games last month to enter Friday with a .262 batting average to start July. He led all National League players in batting in June and finished second in the majors trailing Houston's Jose Altuve's .420 average. He entered Friday riding a nine-game hitting streak.
"I had to keep going and take one day at a time and continue to grind away," Bourjos said. "This is a tough game and you have to believe that if you keep getting an opportunity, you're going to have an opportunity to succeed. You have to trust that the work you're putting in the cages will eventually show up on the field."
Manager Pete Mackanin bumped Bourjos on May 1 to the ninth spot in the lineup. It was the first time a Phillies pitcher did not bat ninth in 37 years. Bourjos stayed at the bottom of the lineup for most of May and June. He said he was not slighted, but it had to feel good to see his name in the No. 2 spot on Friday. It was the sixth straight game he did not bat ninth as his success has driven him up the lineup.
"I think just being in a lineup and contributing is nice," Bourjos said. "I've always said that I just want to be in the lineup and help the team win in any way that I can."
Bourjos batted better than .270 twice in his seven-year career. In those seasons - 2011 and 2013 - Bourjos registered an on-base percentage better than .325. He has shown that he is more than just a dependable defensive outfielder. He just struggled to maintain his performance at the plate. Bourjos has relaxed his swing, and to Mackanin, that makes sense.
"You have to find it out on your own, hitting is like riding a bicycle," Mackanin said. "You have to feel it. Finally, with the work he put in with [hitting coach Steve] Henderson, using the whole field and cutting down his swing, I think it's really helped him. He has a lot of confidence now."
Extra bases
Aaron Nola (5-7, 4.45) will face lefthander Danny Duffy (3-1, 3.24) on Saturday. Duffy, 27, was moved to the starting rotation in May. He has a 3.33 ERA in nine starts. He is coming off an eight inning, two-run performance.