Clement's bat wakes up for Tacoma Rainiers

When Tacoma Rainiers catcher Jeff Clement pulled himself out of a slump by going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs on Friday night during the Rainiers' home-opening win at Cheney Stadium, it wasn't the most significant thing on his mind.

"Today was the due date," Clement said about his wife Lindsey expecting their first baby boy. "Off the top of my head, that's the most important thing going on."

Against the Sacramento River Cats on Sunday, Clement singled to right field in the bottom of the eighth to drive in the game-winning run.

Sometimes, it takes just one game to get out of a slump, even if it's 1-for-19.

"Anybody who understands baseball knows that 19 at-bats is nothing," he said. "I would've liked to got off to a better start, but I am where I'm at right now."

Clement said the key to not falling into a slump is to not get too high or too low throughout the season.

"Timing is the most important thing in hitting," he said. "I felt like I was locked in a little more (Friday night) than any of the other games."

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