John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

NEW YORK – The first three months of the season were unkind to Chris Heisey. He was hitting .210. His playing time was limited.

Heisey has used his additional playing time recently to turn that around.

He extended his hitting streak to five games Saturday with his fourth home run of the season. He is now 8-for-18 with two home runs and two doubles during the streak, raising his average to .242.

But the additional at-bats are not all there is to it. Heisey has adopted the Tony Perez hitting theory.

"It definitely helps to get some reps," Heisey said. "But I also tried to simplify the game: Get in the box, see it and hit it. It's gone well so far. The last week or so, it's been going a lot better for me. I feel like I'm helping the team.

"The first half, I wasn't what I hoped. We've got a lot of time left. I feel like I'm going to take advantage of it."

Reds manager Bryan Price has always been high on Heisey. But Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker outplayed Heisey, and therefore got the bulk of the playing time.

"I felt for a long time that Chris has a chance to be a very good regular everyday outfielder," Price said. "Now after not a real robust start, he's getting more playing time and taking advantage of it. The big thing at this level is when guys get the opportunity is to seize it."

Heisey says that's the key.

"There's no doubt that consistent at-bats help," Heisey said. "It can also go both ways. If you're not playing well and you're getting run out there every day, it can fall the other way. But luckily for me right now, I have that confidence. I'm seeing the ball really well and putting it in play hard. When you do that, good things happen."

YOUNGSTERS IN: Donald Lutz started Saturday at designated hitter and Kristopher Negron started at second base. But Price is more inclined to go with veterans like Heisey and Ramon Santiago.

"A lot of it is the fact that we have guys here who have spent time on the bench, playing more as role players who are getting a chance to play and have been productive, especially Heisey and Santiago," Price said.

"For me it's a little bit more challenging to be in this environment – 2 1/2 games out of first – and to ask the guys to come up from Triple-A and take on a significant role. We've got players here who are a bit more established.

"That being said, these kids have value if they can blend in there periodically and gives us quality at-bats. If I go too long without playing them, they lose that competitive ability."

The bench has been hit hard hit by injuries. Schumaker and Jack Hannahan are currently on the DL.

"We anticipated going into the year rotating Schumaker, Pena, Santiago, Heisey and (Jack) Hannahan," Price said.

"Now, we're rotating three guys that a week ago were in the everyday lineup in Triple-A. That's OK. But, in turn, I'm not comfortable having them come in and sit in the middle of our order when I've got Heisey, Santiago and Pena."