"Quietly, perhaps, from the eighth spot in the Braves order, Nate McLouth has started to turn things around.

The Braves center fielder who's struggled since early in spring training has showed good progress at the plate over the last seven games entering the Reds series. In that time, he's hit .292 (7-for-24) with a home run, five RBIs, four doubles and four walks.

McLouth had four doubles total, and six RBIs, in his first 30 games of the season before he started to heat up against the Brewers in Milwaukee last week.

McLouth hit a game-tying three-run home run in the seventh inning Friday night against Arizona, as the Braves rallied to win 6-5 in the ninth. McLouth followed that up by going 2-for-4 with two doubles on Saturday to start a streak of three consecutive games with a double.

"I've been working hard and taking good swings in batting practice and in the cage, watching a lot of video, working hard to get back where I should be," McLouth had said after that game.

In the last week, he's raised his average from .169 to .195.

"He's swinging it really good, he's hitting the ball hard," manager Bobby Cox said. "I think he's a lot more aggressive with his bat speed, relaxing and letting 'er rip.""