BALTIMORE - It is tradition to blame the Home Run Derby if any of the contestants falls into a slump afterward, as though the act of hitting a baseball for distance somehow ruins a player’s ability to hit one over the second baseman’s head for a single.
Adrian Gonzalez doesn’t buy it.
The Red Sox star was hitless in four at-bats last night in a 6-2 loss against the Baltimore Orioles, leaving him 2 for 24 since returning from the All-Star Game and his second-place finish in the Derby.
He has driven in one run in the five games and struck out seven times. The slump has dropped his batting average from .354 to .337.
“I don’t think the Home Run Derby has anything to do with it,’’ Gonzalez said flatly, swatting the question out of the park.
Gonzalez believes his timing is just a little off, the product of a break in his routine more than anything else. That has led to his checking his swing and appearing indecisive at the plate.
“I’m getting ready late, not recognizing pitches and swinging at pitches that I normally wouldn’t swing at, chasing sliders down in the zone that I usually just take no problem,’’ he said. “When I get a pitch, I foul it off. That’s all it is. It’s not a big deal.’’
Gonzalez grounded out twice and struck out twice last night. He hit the ball hard in his first at-bat but second baseman Blake Davis made a diving play.
Gonzalez had similar misfortune against the Rays on Sunday night, hitting a ball inches foul to left field that otherwise would have been an RBI double. On Saturday a ball to left field fell a few inches short of being a home run.
The solution?
“Stop thinking about it,’’ Gonzalez said. “Nothing changes. The worst thing to do is panic and that’s not something I’ll ever do. I’ve been through too many of these 2-for-whatever it is to know it’s a long season.’’
Gonzalez spoke in similar terms in April when he was hitting .244 after 12 games. He quickly built a résumé that will have him in MVP consideration.
“He was hitting .360. I just don’t think you can do that all year,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “Not very many guys [do]. Sometimes you go through periods when you’re not seeing [the ball] as good as you were. That’ll get back. He was at such a pace, a torrid pace.’’
Gonzalez wasn’t alone last night. Job-seeking Josh Reddick was 3 for 4 and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer. But the Sox otherwise had four singles and did little against Jeremy Guthrie (4-13) and Jim Johnson.
Rookie Kyle Weiland (0-1) was solid for the Sox in his second start, giving up three runs in six innings with three walks and two strikeouts. He left trailing, 3-2.
“I thought he represented himself very well,’’ Francona said.
