Brown still looking to progress at the plate

PHILADELPHIA -- Every time Domonic Brown has taken one step forward this season, he's taken another two steps back the following game.

Friday night was a step forward.

The left fielder's batting average dipped to .199 after a fly out to left in his first at-bat, but his ride on the interstate was short-lived. In his next at-bat, Brown connected on a 2-0 fastball for a three-run home run, his fourth homer of the season.

"All I can do is just play hard and keep doing little things," Brown said. "Getting here early, preparing the right way, just keep having fun. I think that eventually, things will start to click."

Earlier in the week, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Brown was getting pitches to hit, but was just having trouble "connecting."

"He gets pitches to hit and he fouls them off. Before you know it, he's got two strikes."

After last night, Sandberg said the key for Brown was establishing a hitter's count.

"It was good to see," Sandberg said. "That's the type of swing and type of game that can boost his confidence. Something I was hoping for or looking for. It was right at the right time."