Phoenix — Jeff Francoeur said he had planned to ask for a day off this weekend. As it turned out, he didn't have to.

The Braves right fielder was on the bench Saturday against Arizona, as manager Bobby Cox opted to play rookie Gregor Blanco in right field and hot-hitting utility man Omar Infante in left.

"Just like I gave Blanco and [center fielder Mark] Kotsay a rest," Cox said. "Mix them up a little. We've got everybody hitting the ball so well right now."

Not everybody. Francoeur was 10-for-52 with no extra-base hits in his past 14 games, dropping his average to .228, second-worst among National League qualifiers.

Infante had a .323 average with 10 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs in his past 15 games before Saturday, and Martin Prado hit .345 in his past 27 games, including two doubles, a triple and three RBIs in Friday's 11-6 win against Arizona.

Francoeur was out of the lineup for the first time since missing four starts last month during a brief demotion to Class AA Mississippi.

"I was telling my wife last night, if I was going to play today I was going to ask Bobby if I could have [Sunday] off," Francoeur said. "I really was. It's been a long road trip, and we really haven't had an off day in a while.

"It'll be nice to have two off days in three days [including the team's day off Monday]. After fouling [a ball] off my leg last night, there's just times where you realize you need to sit and relax."

That's quite a different view than he expressed prior to this difficult summer. Francoeur said the veteran Kotsay has helped him understand that taking a day off now and then is sometimes the best thing for the player and the team.

Francoeur started every game during 2006-2007 and had a streak of 370 consecutive starts before he was benched in the second game of a May 20 doubleheader against the New York Mets.

He pinch-hit June 22 against Seattle, then missed four games July 4-7 when he was sent down to the minors to work on his swing.

He's listened to endless advice, tweaked his his stance, tried a single contact lens in his right eye to improve depth perception (he's since abandoned it), and gone to the plate at various times trying to be more patient or trying not to think as much.

Nothing has worked, at least not for any significant stretch.

He had .220 average and six homers in his past 100 games before Saturday, including a .208 average and .279 on-base percentage in 86 games since April 29.

After totaling 29 homers and 103 RBIs in 2006 and hitting .293 with 19 homers and 105 RBIs in 2007, he's on pace for 12 homers and 68 RBIs this season.

All things considered, Francoeur seemed surprisingly upbeat Saturday. He didn't grouse when asked about his slump and whether fatigue may have played a factor.

"You know what, I just think it's a whole bunch of things," he said, then talked about positives — some balls he thought he hit well in the first left of the road trip against the Giants, some things he's working on.

"I've got to find a way to keep my hands up, because I'm moving them in too many different directions right now, not getting to pitches that I normally do. That's what I worked hard on today, and what I'm going to work on in [batting practice], keeping my hands still and up and take them directly to the ball."

Francoeur didn't sound bitter or resentful, not like he did when he was sent to the minors. On Saturday, he didn't sound like someone who's been through a wringer lately, who'd been booed by home fans for the first time in his life.

And he didn't sound like he's given up or wished the season was over.

"Hopefully I can get back rolling tomorrow and finish up good," he said. "I still have confidence that I'm going to finish up strong and do the best I can."