Rookie right fielder Jay Bruce struck out seven consecutive times over a two-game period, and manager Dusty Baker called him into his office for a private pep talk.

"I appreciate Dusty doing that," Bruce said. "That's what he is there for, and it is good that he is there for us. He's been through it. He knows things."

And Baker knows things the 21-year-old Bruce needs to know.

"I'm learning," Bruce said. "The way I've been hitting lately is not acceptable by my standards because I expect a lot out of myself. No matter how old I am or how long I've been here, I have a certain standard to perform. Lately I haven't been doing it. And, yes, it's embarrassing.

"But that's the beauty of baseball. ...More