Henry Davis broke out of a deep slump Thursday night, driving a solo home run in the seventh inning to help the Pirates beat the Cardinals 6-2. The blast off Justin Bruihl was Davis' third of the season and came after a 1-for-29 skid at the plate.
Davis finished 1-for-3, giving Pittsburgh a needed jolt in a game it controlled on the way to the 6-2 win. The homer also recalled the two-homer game he had against the Reds on May 1, the last time he looked fully settled at the plate.
The timing mattered because Davis had gone cold after that May 1 outburst. Before Thursday, he had been held to one hit in his previous 29 at bats, a stretch that dragged his season line to.143 with three home runs, nine RBI and a.515 OPS in 98 at bats after the game.
Even with the rough overall numbers, Davis should continue to see most of the action behind the plate while Joey Bart remains on the shelf. That gives the Pirates a reason to keep running him out there, and it gives Davis more chances to turn one swing into something lasting.
