Returning leg strength gives Moss confidence

ST. LOUIS -- Brandon Moss is finally feeling stronger after hip surgery derailed his offseason preparation, and the results are starting to show.

Moss belted his first two home runs as a Cardinal last week in Arizona and San Francisco. He also hit several balls hard right to opposing defenders.

The resurgence coincides as Moss has been able to work on his leg strength for the last month.

"I don't know how much strength is actually built back, it's probably more just getting the muscles to fire again," Moss said. "But, confidence-wise, to know that they are actually firing, that goes a long way, too."

Moss entered Monday's game against the Nationals hitting .214 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs in 397 at-bats between the Cardinals and the Indians. Coming into the season, Moss knew he would have some struggles coming back from the injury.

"I just knew that it wasn't so much that I was terrible, it's just that I was inconsistent and I wasn't as strong as I have normally been," Moss said. "It's just one of those things where you know that over time will fix itself. You just hope that you're able to correct it before the end of the season and help out the team."

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is confident Moss can make an impact down the stretch.

"It's more confidence for him more so than anything else, and now that he's there, we've got to watch and see what we can get because his numbers show that he can hit lefties," Matheny said. "Let's ride it as long as we can. Hopefully the rest of the way."