TORONTO

Yu Darvish is one of the best pitchers in the American League.

On Saturday afternoon, Adam Lind treated the Texas Rangers ace like he was some dude throwing batting practice.

Then again, Lind has been unkind to pretty well every pitcher in the AL the past month or so.

As Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said following the Jays’ 4-3, 18-inning victory at the Rogers Centre on Saturday, Lind as been “unconscious” the past few weeks.

He went 3-for-3 against Darvish, who was pulled in seventh inning, and 4-for-7 on the day, with a walk and a run scored as Toronto’s DH. Lind now has nine multi-hit games in his past 14 games and has raised his batting average 104 points since May 20, from .238 to .342. Since May 7, he leads the majors a with .413 batting average (38-for-92).

“He’s been in some kind of groove,” said Gibbons. “After a slow April, he’s really picked it up. The last couple of weeks, he’s been unconscious and it’s great to see.”

Lind hit .244 in 45 at-bats in April with zero home runs. Now he’s hitting .342 with five homers.

“You know, we always knew he could hit,” added Gibbons. “Last year, the year before, he was a little off. But he looks like the old guy now. He’s using the whole field. He’s a tough out. His discipline is much better now than it’s ever been and I think that’s helping him.”

There were some question marks surrounding Lind coming into this season. Last season, he was optioned to triple-A Las Vegas after batting .140 in May and was later placed on outright waivers. Though April and May he hit .186 with three home runs. After 32 games in Vegas, where he hit .392, Lind was recalled and hit .288 with five home runs and 16 RBIs before suffering a back strain that would keep him out until Aug. 27.

Upon his return, he hit .301 with 18 RBIs in 35 contests and 13 extra-base hits and over his final 22 games posted a .347 average. Still, the Jays were unsure what Lind they were going to get this season — the guy who has struggled at times the past three seasons or the Adam Lind who hit .305 with 35 homers in 2009.

The 2013 season is still young, but Lind is as relaxed and confident at the plate as he’s been in years.

“It’s hard to point out exactly what it is,” said Lind, when asked about the roll he’s been on. “I’m sure some of it’s luck, using the whole field and not giving them scouting reports where I’ve been hitting the ball on a consistent basis. I’ve hit the ball kind of all over the field this year. And it’s helped keep the coaches who do the spray charts on their toes.”

Prior to a nine-game inter-league stretch against Atlanta, San Diego and San Francisco, which began at the Rogers Centre against the Braves on May 27, Gibbons talked about how, unfortunately, with the pitchers batting on the road, Lind might be the odd man out in some games. But the way the Anderson, Ind., native is hitting now, there’s no way Gibbons would keep him out of the lineup.

Lind is as low-key as they come, but you can sense his enthusiasm about the way things have gone the last few weeks.

“You kind of crave the next at-bat much more than when you’re 0-for 5 or hitting .200,” he said. “It definitely feels better than being by the Mendoza Line.”

This is a big year for Lind. He’s making $5 million, with the next three years of his contract being club options. For 2014, he’s scheduled to make $7 million (with a $2- million buyout), followed by $7.5-million in 2015, ($1-million buyout) and $8 million in 2016 ($500,000 buyout). Needless to say, Lind, and the Jays, are hoping for a big year.

Perhaps another reason for Lind’s success the past few weeks lies in the fact that he’s a little more relaxed at the plate and away from the ball park. It may just be a coincidence, but Lind’s hot run began about the same time his Toronto-born wife, Lakeyshia, gave birth to the couple’s second child (on April 25).

“I don’t know,” said Lind, with a laugh, when asked if there was a connection.

But you know what they say: Happy home, happy bat ... or something along those lines.

Beezer takes in Sunday's Jays-Rangers game from Rogers Centre: