Since returning on June 5 –– after missing six games with a torn adductor muscle in his thumb –– Pedroia has sputtered at the plate, collecting just nine hits through 14 games heading into Saturday's 8-4 win over the Braves.
But he finally exploded on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. In his second at-bat of the game, the Red Sox second baseman ripped only his fourth extra-base hit of the month, well short of his Laser Show persona.
Due to his performance, Pedroia is optimistic more success is on the way.
"I’m always in a good frame of mind," Pedroia said. "I just try to know that, in the end, I’ll be right there, where I normally am. You guys saw it last year and the year before and the year before. Everyone goes through tough times. It’s how you bounce out of it. Once you find your swing, you take off."
This could be that moment. Entering the game, Pedroia was dealing with an 0-for-11 drought, but quickly erased memories by piling up two singles and a double against the Braves' pitching staff.
It marked his first three-hit game since May 11 and first multi-RBI performance since May 21 –– both before he seriously aggravated his thumb injury. And Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine was encouraged by Pedroia's approach on Friday.
"I thought some of his at-bats were a little different than they had been," Valentine said. "His ground balls had the power to get through the infield. The double to left-center field, the walk — he had good at-bats tonight. He’s feeling good."
Pedroia now has totaled 28 RBIs for the season.
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