The manager speculates the improved stretch stems from batting higher in the lineup. Then again, he also says he’s not sure why it’s happening. The media wonders if it’s because he’s hitting behind a powerful batter.
The player says hold on. It’s not that complicated.
“Check my track record,” Royce Clayton said. “This is when I usually start doing well.”
And because of it, so, too are the Nationals. Thursday was a perfect example: Clayton doubled twice and drove in two runs in Washington’s 5-2 win over visiting Philadelphia.
Clayton is right; June is when he starts to hit well. He’s a career .264 hitter in this month compared to .237 in April and May.
But he started this hot streak a few weeks early.
The Nationals’ shortstop moved into the No. 2 spot in the order in mid-May; since then Washington is 13-7 and he’s batting .338 in that time and now has a nine-game hitting streak.
“The stars don’t align too well for me in April and May,” Clayton said. “When the weather heats up and my body is loose, I can do certain things with my swing. As the season progresses, I feel better.”
Clayton batted second in Colorado two years ago and posted some of his best stats, hitting .279 with eight homers and 54 RBI.
“I considered myself the Magic Johnson of the lineup,” Clayton said. “I set up the assists and moved runners along and let [other] guys drive in the runs.”
He also said batting second has helped him improve as a hitter, especially with two strikes. That helps with a player like Alfonso Soriano in front of him, giving Soriano a chance to steal.
“I know the situations and I know what needs to be done,” Clayton said.
“He’s doing all the things to help us win,” manager Frank Robinson said. “He’s been one of the keys in the offense out of that second spot.”
The Nationals are now 28-33 and own the Major League’s best record in the past 21 games at 15-6. They’re also 26-7 in June since relocating to Washington.
Thursday, Mike O’Connor (3-3) won for the first time in six starts, copying what the other starters have done lately in giving the Nats a quality outing. The hitters came through with five extra-base hits.
“We’re doing the same thing we did at home,” Robinson said. “It’s all-around good team play. The starting pitching has been good. The bullpen has been good. The defense has been good. And the hitting has been good and timely.”
