MIAMI – Jason Heyward was out of the Braves lineup Tuesday night, though manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was more about getting fourth outfielder Reed Johnson some at-bats than it was Heyward's .083 batting average.
“We’ve only pinch-hit (Johnson) the last seven games,” Gonzalez said. “You know the way I like to roll — just give him four at-bats, keep him sharp, and give Jason a little breather.”
Heyward was 2-for-24 before Tuesday, and got both hits (including a homer) in an April 3 game against Philly.
“I’ve been a little tense, trying to be too fine,” said Heyward, who was 0-for-17 with two walks and five strikeouts in his past five games.
While Gonzalez did his postgame media session in the visiting manager’s office at Marlins Park late Monday night, Heyward could be seen through an office window, hitting in the indoor batting cage adjacent to the clubhouse. Just Heyward, hitting coach Greg Walker and assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher were there.
“I went in the cage after the game last night, not an angry round (of batting practice), not a venting round,” Heyward said. “Just more of, ‘We’re getting close, let’s go see if we can feel right.’ Came out feeling better than I have in a long time.”
Heyward was asked if he thought it was just a small adjustment that was necessary to get him out of his funk.
“Definitely,” he said. “Just been a little tense. Last night, the past few days — I felt like Chicago did a pretty good job of keeping us off-balance and not throwing a lot of strikes. And then last night we do get some pitches to hit, and in trying to make sure I do that I was trying to be too fine, instead of just being athletic. Be loose, be flexibile, hit the ball.
“I felt my last few at-bats – my at-bats before yesterday and the last at-bat last night — I’m on time, swinging at good pitches, not chasing a whole lot. But not really getting my extension through the ball. So I decided to go in the cage, get some work done, get back to being loose. And it’s right there….
“Last night was one of those where, I’m not going to be complacent. I know it’s just starting out week 2, but when it’s right there, when it’s that close, sometimes you just want to go out there and make sure. That’s what we did. ‘Let’s go in here and talk about it, feel it out, see what we can come away with.’ And we came away more than satisfied.”
Heyward was 0-for-8 against left-handers before Tuesday, when the Braves faced Marlins lefty Wade LeBlanc.
The Braves will face Marlins right-hander Alex Sanabia in the series finale Wednesday, then have a day off before opening a weekend series at Washington and facing Nationals lefty Ross Detwiler on Friday, followed by right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez.
“We do need to get Reeder some at-bats, so he can be fresh in his role coming off the bench,” Heyward said of being out of the lineup Tuesday. “That’s the first priority, when it came down to it. And this is just an easier day to do it than the next. Especially with Washington coming up this weekend. But other than that, there’s no (issue). Get my work in, be ready to pinch-hit or play defense.”
Gonzalez said he wasn’t worried about his right fielder. He agreed with Heyward’s assessment of his swing.
“I think Jason is right there,” Gonzalez said. “I know he spent some time in the cage with Walk and Fletch last night after the game was over, and I think they got it figured out. They got it worked out.
“It wasn’t like when you see a guy struggling a little bit and you see him rolling over pitches, you see him swinging. He’s doing everything good, it was just a matter of, I think, changing his hand position a little bit to get a little bit more whip. I think he’ll be fine.”
