Cubs’ Heyward: ‘Handling failure part of game’

8:27 PM ET

CHICAGO — Struggling Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward didn’t deny the pressure of being the new guy with a big contract is contributing to his woes, just as it did Jon Lester a year ago, but he’s not willing to use that as an excuse and strongly believes better days are ahead.

“You could say it’s a little bit of all of the above, but at the same time I think I was right around doing the same thing same time last year,” Heyward said after the Cubs’ 7-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. “It happens. I’ve been a slow starter. I’ve done that before and bounced back and no one is thinking about April and May.”

Heyward had a hit and a walk Wednesday, but is batting just .212 this season. His situational numbers are especially revealing: He leads the team with 14 strikeouts with men on base and has advanced a runner from second to third with no outs only 50 percent of the time. He accomplished that at a 71 percent clip last year.

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