Thomas seeing double for Yard Goats

A slow start notwithstanding, Dillon Thomas feels more comfortable and confident in his abilities at the plate than at any other time in his professional career.
Thomas doubled four times on a career-high five-hit night to lead Double-A Hartford to its sixth straight win, 7-3, over Bowie on Monday night at Prince George's Stadium. He scored three runs and drove in two more.

The five hits topped his previous career best of four, accomplished last July 9 and Aug. 25 with Hartford.
Gameday box score
"I was just really relaxed tonight and seeing the ball well," Thomas said. "It really wasn't anything special that I did, but I am getting back to feeling like myself. I've been more relaxed and have slowed things down. It's nothing physical, but I know my swing works and I know it plays here, so it's starting to work out for me.
"It's just one of those situations. You get one hit and you say to yourself, 'I want the next one.' Then you get the second one and you tell yourself the same thing. During my last at-bat, I told myself to bear down and not change anything from my previous AB's. [Bobby Bundy] made a mistake and I put a good swing on it."

The productive night was a long time coming for the 24-year-old, who hit .289/.353/.425 with a career-high 37 doubles in 111 games for the Yard Goats in 2016 before struggling to a low of .138 on May 1. Thomas has batted .324 in 21 games since, and Monday's outburst raised his average 30 points to .240. 
"I was really struggling, but looking back to last season, I started to realize pitchers were making adjustments on me," said the Houston native, who had eight hits in 16 games in April. "I faced a few of the same guys from last year earlier this season and they were pitching me very differently. It's a constant battle to make adjustments and I've been doing that lately. 
"To be honest, it's a little bit easier to do it now than it was when I was younger. I have a better understanding of what I'm trying to do at the plate. I understand my swing and the game as a whole. Early on in my career, I'm just up there swinging and hoping to hit the ball. Now, I have a little better idea of how I should go about making those adjustments and tailoring things to meet whatever situation I may be in."
Thomas grounded a double to right field in the second and scored the first run of the game when Josh Fuentes followed with a double. The outfielder helped create another run in the fourth after doubling again to right. He took third on a lineout to center and scored on a groundout by Jan Vázquez to tie the game at 2-2.
Thomas racked up his third consecutive double in the fifth, this one to the opposite field to drive in Max White and Ashley Graeter during a three-run frame.
Center fielder Omar Carrizales helped preserve the advantage with a spectacular diving catch to end Bowie's sixth before Thomas ignited another rally with a two-out single to center in the seventh. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound outfielder took third on Fuentes' second hit of the game and crossed home plate on the front end of a double steal.

Thomas capped his night with his fourth double, to center, to lead off the ninth.
"It's always good to have a night like this," the 2011 fourth-round Draft pick said. "You don't forget it and when you have it, you want that feeling every night. Good hitters can do that with their consistency, whether they're going good or bad. The key for me is finding that consistency and keeping it going."
Anthony Phillips homered for the third straight game, while Vazquez plated a pair for the Yard Goats.

Rockies No. 6 prospectRyan Castellani (3-4) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four in six innings for the win.
Starter David Hess (5-3) surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings for Bowie. The Orioles No. 27 prospect has lost two straight after a four-game winning streak