After a slow start at the plate and a 15-day stint on the disabled list with a calf injury, Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino has been on a recent tear.
Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki got off to a red-hot start at the plate and suffered through an 0-23 stretch before regaining his batting stroke.
Yesterday, Victorino scored four runs while going 1-for-2 and stealing his ninth base of the season as Philadelphia routed Colorado 20-5 and stayed within 2.5 games of surprising NL East leader Florida.
The switch-hitting Victorino also attained a painful milestone by being hit by a pitch from both sides of the plate.
The day before, Victorino drove in three runs and scored twice in Philly's 15-6 rout of Houston. Shane had a single and double in five at-bats in that game.
Over the past seven outings, he's batting .387 with 12 hits, 10 runs and 5 RBI while stealing three bases. The surge has lifted his season average to .270.
Oakland was idle yesterday, but Suzuki went 3 for 4 on Sunday to raise his average over the past seven games to .412 and lifting his season average to .253.
Suzuki also ranks first in the American League and second in the majors in throwing out runners trying to steal. He has gunned down 13 of 33.
The Athletics trail the Angels by two games in the AL West.
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