Baker believes cold April was tough on Rendon

MIAMI - Manager Dusty Baker has placed third baseman Anthony Rendon in the No. 6 spot in the batting order again for the fourth consecutive game. Rendon raked for five hits in his last two games, but his recent bounceback at the plate actually started last week.

In April, Rendon hit .242 with only four doubles and just one RBI. He had no triples and no homers in that first month.

Since May 10, Rendon has hit .406 (13-for-32) with three doubles, five RBIs, five walks and two stolen bases.

Baker talked about his impressions of Rendon before he became the Nationals manager.

"I always heard he could hit. Bright young man, went to Rice," Baker said. "My godson and my best friend, (former major league outfielder) Ralph Garr and Ralph Garr Jr. scouted him in the Houston area where they are. They told me he had the best hand action that they've seen and how he could hit, and whoever drafted him took a chance because he had been hurt in college. So I know his background. Rice has produced some pretty good players."

Baker, reiterating the confidence he has in the entire lineup, said he believed a good hitter like Rendon would come around. And for him back in the day, he knew he would get going in the hot summer months, so he needed to just survive April and May. He believes Rendon is cut from the same cloth.

"I know he's going to hit, it's just a matter of when. You'd rather he hit sooner rather than later because that makes it easier on all of us," Baker said.

"I always thought if I was hitting .250 come June, that I would hit .300," Baker continued. "Some players are warm weather players. I was one of them. That's the same thing I think about Anthony. I think about how he was in spring training and then we come home and how cold it was and how he just wasn't the same."

Baker said he talked about it earlier this week that hitters need to make their move, get out of a slow spot, before 200 at-bats because if you don't: "Then it gets harder to move."

Baker acknowledged he felt the somewhat rocky start at the plate for Rendon was taking its toll.

"I see him heating up because he's so cool and so calm, but he was going crazy on the inside, I think," Baker said.

"I think he feels a lot better about himself."