Savoring Fenway experience, birthday boy Butler fuels win with big 2B

BOSTON -- Lawrence Butler has been looking forward to this road trip to Fenway Park since the start of the season. Not only was it going to be his first time playing at the historic stadium, but the three-game series also happened to fall during the rookie’s birthday week.

Once the A’s team bus arrived to Fenway for Tuesday’s series opener, Butler was immediately awestruck by his introduction to the legendary venue, which included a visit inside the famous Green Monster in left field.

“Walking down the tunnel to the field, it feels like a video game,” Butler said. “Like you’re in MLB The Show. It’s crazy. Just to be able to share the same field as some of the greatest players to ever play this game is very cool.”

Taking the field for his 24th birthday on Wednesday, Butler keyed Oakland’s 5-2 victory over the Red Sox by reaching base three times as part of a 2-for-3 performance that included a two-run double off Nick Pivetta in the third inning.

“Man,” Butler said. “To go 2-for-3, [with a] walk, two RBIs and a dub in Fenway, it’s an amazing birthday.”

Butler kicked off his birthday festivities the night before when he bashed a 457-foot three-run homer that stands as the longest of his career and the longest by any A’s player so far this season.

Over his last nine games, Butler is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers and nine RBIs. That success directly correlates with a mechanical tweak he made before a game against the D-backs on June 30. Butler worked with A’s director of hitting Darren Bush on an adjustment to keep his head movement under control at the plate, allowing him to see the ball better coming out of the pitcher’s hand for a longer period of time.

When a hitter makes an adjustment, it can take some time before the desired results start to show. In the case of Butler, his adjustment at the plate has delivered instant success.

“You love to see the results happen this fast,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “But that takes an open mind and willingness to make adjustments, which is hard for a young player. I tip my cap to him for doing that.”

For Butler, the immediate results are a sign that his approach is right.

“I’m on the right path to becoming the player I want to be,” Butler said. “I’ve just got to thank [Bush] for helping me acknowledge the problem and fixing stuff up.”

Kotsay pointed to Butler’s two hits on Wednesday -- both of which went the opposite way to left field and were struck at an exit velocity of 100 mph or more -- as evidence of the adjustment paying off.

“Those two balls he hit today, if you go back two or three weeks ago, he was taking those for strikes,” Kotsay said. “He wasn’t being aggressive. He wasn’t trying to use that side of the field. Those two balls he hit tonight were missiles. The double into the corner was a huge at-bat and a huge momentum swing in the game.”

Butler’s performance over the past couple of weeks is who the A’s believe he can be at his best. This is a player who is equipped with an exciting blend of speed and power tools that project stardom. Now, it’s about maintaining that consistency through the rest of the season.

“He’s been swinging it really well and looking really good at the plate,” said JP Sears, who set the tone on the mound for Oakland with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. “We’re obviously expecting more of that from him in the future.”

Aside from baseball, Butler’s birthday was rather tame. He spent most of the day at the ballpark as he had early cage work lined up. Of course, nothing could have beat the present of a victory at the end of the day.

“I had early hitting on my birthday so I had to show up early,” Butler said with a laugh. “No days off.”