'Letting it fly,' Dozier turns around slow start

TORONTO -- After a slow start to the season offensively, second baseman Brian Dozier has turned it around at the plate.

Dozier entered June hitting just .214 with two homers, three doubles and 13 RBIs in 41 games but has been swinging a hot bat since then. Dozier is batting .272 with six homers, seven doubles and 20 RBIs in 33 games since the calendar turned to June.

It has raised his batting average to .237 on the year, and with a three-run homer Saturday, his eight homers are tied for third on the team with Joe Mauer, Ryan Doumit and Chris Parmelee.

"He's just letting it fly," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Like we told him way back, 'Quit worrying about where the ball is going and just swing. You have to find your way here.' We're always trying to see if a guy will work out and how he'll do, and the first thing that happens is that you have to trust your ability and do what got you here.

"He was worried about things like popping up, and we just told him to swing and let it fly, and that's what he's doing, so it's a lot more fun watching him."