Toronto Blue Jays J.P. Arencibia (R) is congratulated by team mate Travis Snider after hitting a three run home in the fifth inning of their American League MLB baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Toronto July 29, 2011. REUTERS/Fred ThornhillFred Thornhill/Reuters
For J.P. Arencibia it has been a matter of clearing his mind before clearing the bases.
The rookie catcher had been struggling at the plate for the Toronto Blue Jays and his average was dipping into the low-.200s before he decided to take action.
His new credo over the last couple of weeks has been "stop thinking" -- step up to the plate without worrying about the failures of the past and just let it rip.
Putting his brain in neutral has been a successful tonic for Arencibia, whose three-run home run in the fifth was all the Blue Jays would need in a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Friday night at Rogers Centre.
"On a night when we get all of our offence on one swing of the bat we made it stand up," said Toronto manager John Farrell.
For Arencibia, it was his 17th home run of the season and fifth in his past six games.
"Like I said I've been trying a little bit too hard earlier, I was trying to think about too many things at the plate," Arencibia said. "Baseball's hard enough. All I've tried to do is really clear my mind and it's working out."
Arencibia said the home run he stroked off Texas starter Alexi Orgando was a slider.
"And it kind of fooled me a little bit because he throws hard and you got to really sit on his fastball," Arencibia, whose average is now .220 after a 1-for-3 night. "I was able to still get my hands extended and able to drive it out of the park."
Curiously enough, Arencibia's power surge has occurred with him hitting from the bottom of the batting order, which for some reason seems to agree with him.
Heading into the game, Arencibia was hitting .391 with six home runs hitting ninth in the batting order.
Farrell said he can't explain why but he sure hopes it continues.