Without question, Pawtucket Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava is one of the most polite (almost to a fault) and congenial players on the team.
But when you’re inclined to talk to him about his statistics he throws up a stop sign.
That was the case Tuesday night after Pawtucket spotted Rochester a 6-0 lead before rallying for an 8-6 victory with Nava’s two-out, seventh-inning double breaking a 6-6 tie.
Since Nava was designated for assignment by Boston and rejoined Pawtucket on May 26, all he’s done in 27 games is hit at a .365 clip (38-for-104) replete with six doubles and three home runs.
“If you have stats for me I don’t want to hear them,” Nava said with a smile on his face.
So, when the question was reworded and Nava was asked what adjustments he’s made he was more communicative.
“I definitely have (made adjustments),” he said. “I had those roughly four to five days when I was away from the team. I went to hit with Ryan Westmoreland’s dad (Ron). He was gracious enough to let me swing as much as I wanted to.
“It allowed me to clear my mind a little bit. When I got back, I kind of had nothing to lose. That played into talking with (hitting coach) Chili (Davis). I felt like I was trying to do too much before. What I try to do now is just try and relax as much as possible and let the game come to me as best as I can.”
Rochester led 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh when Brent Dlugach led with a home run and Lars Anderson singled.
Nava then smoked a double to right-center that rolled to the fence and which allowed Anderson to score from first base with the eventual game-winning run.
Nava also singled and scored during a four-run fourth inning which enabled the PawSox to slice their deficit to 6-4.
“Chili and I definitely have talked,” said Nava. “When you’re on the same page with your hitting coach it’s a help. But I think it’s really about letting the game come to me as best as I can. I was pressing in the beginning.
“When you get to a point where you realize you can’t keep pressing and it’s not working, you try something else. It’s just as simple as that. I wish there was a button you could push.”
Nava isn’t the only player who’s wished that would be the case.
EXTRA BASES: Rochester strafed Pawtucket starter Kevin Millwood for six earned runs on nine hits over four innings … This outburst increased Millwood’s ERA to 3.66 from 2.89 in his fifth start since joining Pawtucket.
“(Location) was a bit of an issue,” said Millwood. “I left some balls up and just didn’t make pitches when I needed to.”
Millwood threw 51 of 83 pitches for strikes which was commendable. But …
“I didn’t throw too many strikes,” he said. “I didn’t throw enough quality strikes. Like I said, I left the ball up and over the plate. I didn’t keep the ball down enough.”