Jay Payton continues to show he deserves extended playing time.
During yesterday’s 13-5 loss to the Yankees, Payton hit an opposite-field homer off Andy Pettitte in the second inning and delivered an RBI single in the fifth. Payton’s 2-for-4 day raised his average to .265 from .206 on May 24.
“I’m not jerking,” Payton said to describe the difference in his swing. “I’m not trying to do too much with my hands. Basically, I’m just trying to take what they give me.”
Payton’s been playing solidly at center field and with his bat as hot as yesterday’s temperature, he has been rewarded by Bobby Valentine, who has started him in the past eight games.
Up until recently, Payton was being used only as a defensive replacement.
“It’s nice to feel good at the plate and to feel like I’m going to have a chance to hit the ball hard at the plate,” Payton said.
The 27-year-old did this in the second, taking Pettitte’s fastball six rows deep into the porch.
“I thought I hit it good because I knew the wind was blowing out to right,” Payton said. “If it was another day and the wind was blowing in, then probably not. So I played the elements and it worked out.”
The homer was Payton’s fourth in his past eight games, which is part of his impressive run. His two runs batted in were his ninth over the same period. He is hitting .448 in the last eight games.