Bader entered Friday’s game caught in a flurry of strikeouts that included two three-strikeout games in the past week and 17 strikeouts in 37 at-bats this month. He added one more in the Cards’ 3-0 loss to the Dodgers and said the focus of his work on the field Friday was “hitting the ball forward” and not fouling pitches off or “not hitting them at all.”
While his average has idled around .218 the past 24 games, Bader has found other ways to take off. A gifted fielder who could be in the running for Gold Glove votes, Bader recently has become more aggressive and adroit on the bases.