John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

CHICAGO -- If Billy Hamilton has learned anything this season, it's this:

Starting the year against the top of the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation and the back of their bullpen is harder than college calculus.

Hamilton began the year 0-for-12. He struck out in half of those at-bats. Since then, he is hitting .273 with a .304 on-base percentage and six runs scored. He's struck out seven times in 44 at-bats.

Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal have put other hitters in funks as well.

"It wasn't just the first three games," he said. "I faced them again in St. Louis. My first few games were against the Cardinals. I didn't play in the Mets series. Those guys are tough. It's always going to be tough until you learn those guys. Those guys are great pitchers. You can't try to do too much against great pitchers, maybe get a bunt hit, try to get comfortable."

Wainwright, Wacha or Lynn started in Hamilton's first five starts. Since then he's hitting .294/.333/.382.

Hamilton had a three-hit game Saturday and took a four-game hitting streak into Sunday's game. Reds manager Bryan Price has seen a difference in Hamilton's approach.

"Better pitch selection, taking advantage of the pitchers he is getting to handle," Price said. "He's also hitting more line drives and he had a couple of pull ground balls through the right side which is good to see, along with the bunt base hit, doing the things that make him successful."

And avoiding the things that don't.

"A lot of balls with a lot of air under them aren't going to benefit Billy," Price said. "Those hard line drives and ground balls work well for him."

Hamilton says this approach is more what he's like as a hitter.

"I'm being myself again," he said. "I'm relaxing. It's coming around. I'm taking better at-bats. I'm seeing pitches better."