Prado finds confidence over two-month surge

PHOENIX -- There was a time this season when it looked as if D-backs third baseman Martin Prado might never find the type of groove that propelled him to a career year in 2012 with the Braves. In his first 78 games of 2013 through June, the 29-year-old tallied 75 hits, six homers and 26 RBIs.

Since then, however, Prado has completely flipped the switch on his inaugural campaign in the desert. In his last 49 games entering Wednesday, he has been a force at the plate, collecting 68 hits, seven homers and 45 RBIs.

"I feel like the first couple months, I was swinging at pitches I shouldn't have been swinging at," Prado said. "Everything was about confidence and getting the kind of confidence where you're at the plate and you can just pick your spot, pick your pitch and attack."

Because of his prolonged, two-month offensive surge, Prado's numbers for 2013 have begun creeping closer to where the finished a year ago. In 2012, he had a slash line of .301/.359/.438, and entering Wednesday his line for the season was. 284/.338/.423. Moreover, Prado already has a career-high 71 RBIs and is two homers away from matching his career best of 15 set in 2010.

"I've just been given a lot of opportunities," Prado said. "And when you have those kind of opportunities, you have to take advantage of it. This game is streaky like that."