Giants manager Bruce Bochy dropped Brandon Belt into the eighth spot in the lineup Monday at Arizona for the first time this season since Belt had a poor track record against starting pitcher Ian Kennedy. It didn't seem to bother Belt.
The first baseman homered off Kennedy, who he had been 2 for 15 (.133) against coming into Monday's game, and broke open a 4-all tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning, lifting the Giants to a 6-4 win.
"I liked it tonight," Belt said of batting eighth, per MLB.com. "I don't know if it's the ideal position. As a hitter you want to try to move your way up through the order."
Belt, who hit his second home run, appears to be emerging from a early season slump. Belt has hit safely in six of his last seven games, producing a .409 average (9 for 22), one double, two home runs and six RBI. He's sent his batting average surging from .183 to .244.