SAN DIEGO -- Boy did he need that.

Struggling Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward hit just his sixth home run of the season on Monday, barely clearing the right field wall off San Diego Padres starter Edwin Jackson in the fifth inning. It only traveled 373 feet, but to the Cubs' dugout, it could have gone 700.

Chicago's players erupted as the ball landed just outside the reach of Padres right fielder Patrick Kivlehan.

"Everyone is cheering their butt off for him," Monday's winner Jon Lester said after the 5-1 victory. "We know how hard he's working, how hard he's grinding. There's not a more professional guy that I've ever been around than him."

Heyward's first two at-bats of the game had gone a lot like his previous 409 this season -- a groundout to the right side, followed by a strike out -- but his blast the next time up could be something to build from. He's the highest paid player in team history, and he knows all eyes are on him as the Cubs have all but wrapped up a playoff spot. Can he get it going at the plate before October baseball arrives?

"Everyone is cheering their butt off for him," said Jon Lester of Jason Heyward. Denis Poroy/Getty Images

"Just hanging in there in that at-bat," Heyward said. "Taking a good pitch, fighting off a good pitch, then coming through. It's good to come through and help."

Before the game, Cubs manager Joe Maddon relayed to reporters his advice to Heyward after giving Heyward four consecutive games off that began on Thursday. Heyward never so much as got off the bench over the weekend in Denver.

"Just go play," Maddon told him. "I'd rather see him cut back on his workload and just play the game. I want him fresh mentally and physically, because there are so many different ways he can help you win a baseball game. I mean that, sincerely. He can't do any more work. He can't try anything differently. He can't work any harder. He can't do any of that. It's impossible. Just go play."

Heyward usually helps the Cubs with his glove and not his bat, but after hitting just five home runs all year without committing an error, he did both against the Padres. It just added to a roller coaster year for Heyward, who signed an eight-year, $184 million deal during the offseason. There's a lot of inherent pressure that comes with that.

"I've been really impressed how he's been able to maneuver through all of this," Maddon said. "I give him a lot of credit. The guy is dripping with emotional intelligence."

Fortunately, Heyward's ball got out in the fifth, because his next at-bat ended in a ground ball back to the pitcher. He was that close from another disappointing night, but beggars can't be choosers in baseball. It's hard enough to hit a baseball; a little good fortune can go a long way.

Maddon sidestepped talk of his playoff lineup and roster, citing the month of the season we're currently in. It's just too early, and it's not like Heyward has to do a lot to secure his spot: just a few more at-bats like his third one on Monday.

"I'm not worried about the playoffs," Maddon said. "I want to make the playoffs and take it from there. He still has six weeks or so. So much baseball to be played. He could be the hottest hitter in the NL the next month. And he's very capable of doing that."

Heyward half-laughed when told of Maddon's comments. He would love to get hot, but thinking about anything more than his next at-bat or next inning in the field simply won't do him much good right now. Enjoying his home run as much as his teammates did is probably the right tactic. Heyward can worry about the playoffs later.

"To get a ball out after a couple days off to clear his mind, or whatever, that dugout was more than ecstatic for him to make that good swing," Lester said.