Bautista on track?

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

SARASOTA -- After extensive work this spring with first-year hitting coach Don Long, Pirates third baseman Jose Bautista may be finding his groove.
Bautista's line-drive, two-run home run off Josh Fogg was the big hit in a four-run third inning in Pittsburgh's 8-4 victory against the Reds at Ed Smith Stadium. He went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs, raising his spring-training average to .212 (7-for-33).
"All you can really control when you go up there is having a good approach," Bautista said. "Results come and go, even if you are hitting the ball good.
"One of the things I have to work on this year is staying patient and sticking to my approach. Every now and then you miss your pitch or get a borderline call in favor of the pitcher, but those sort of things happen.
"Today I didn't miss my pitch and hit the ball hard. I'm just glad I could get those RBIs and get our team ahead," Bautista said.