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Phillies Hernandez seeing results by altered approach at the plate

Phillies infielder Cesar Hernandez seems to have gotten the message. The Phillies have felt that Hernandez (and teammate Freddy Galvis) have been trying to hit the ball too hard, instead of putting the ball in play and relying on their speed.

Hernandez had four at-bats in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals and he hit the ball on the ground all four times.

The first two were outs that he hit to shortstop. His third at-bat, he used his speed to reach base on a bunt single to third. In the ninth inning, he added a single past shortstop.

During his last five games, Hernandez is 12 for 21 (.571).  For the season he is batting .279 and it's his highest average since he was hitting .280 after a 4-3 win over Cleveland on April 29.

So it appears that manager Pete Mackanin and his staff are getting through to the 26-year-old Hernandez.

" With Hernandez, we kind of triple-team teamed him in batting practice, telling him to keep the ball out of the air," Mackanin said before the game.

The message is for Hernandez is to take advantage of his speed.

"Three hundred foot fly balls don't work," Mackanin said. "He has to cut his swing down..."

Entering the game, Hernandez was tied for the National League lead in bunt hits, and the one he had Saturday increased his total to seven. He was also tied for second with five triples and tied for seventh with 14 infield hits.

With his speed, he can put a lot of pressure on a defense.

A switch-hitter, Hernandez says he has gotten Mackanin's message loud and clear.

"I have been working on my swing and I am trying to put the ball in play," he said with help of a translator. "I know with my speed, I have to put it on the ground more."

Not only has Hernandez been on a hot streak in the last five games, but he has enjoyed sustained success. In June he batted .305 and is now 4 for 8 in the first two days of July.

As his batting average has climbed, so has his confidence.

"I see the difference now and why they want me to hit the ball on the ground," Hernandez said. "I can see the improvement."