5/7 LaHair locked in

Bryan LaHair may be surprising people who haven’t seen him but he isn’t surprising himself.

“I’ve envisioned exactly what’s taken place,” LaHair said after Monday’s 5-1 win over the Braves. “I’ve focused on having a great season and I’m not surprised.”

LaHair hit his eighth home run, most among Major League first basemen, and now has reached base safely in 25 straight games. He has 16 RBIs in his last 19 games and of his eight home runs, four have tied a game. He’s locked in.

“That’s just my approach,” LaHair said. “I work really hard to get ahead in the count, I work really hard to swing at good pitches. I study before the game, I visualize before the game. I see myself swinging at good pitches all the time at home, in the dugout, in the locker room. I always see myself swinging at good pitches, and sometimes I don’t.”

– Carrie Muskat