Barney had three singles and a double in the game, while driving in one run and scoring two. The Cubs would go on to lose the game, 5-4, despite his efforts. He is now batting .223 on the season, with a .695 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

After beginning May without a hit in seven games (0 for 20), Barney has hit safely in four of his last five games. He's batting .333 (6 for 18) with one home run, two RBI, three runs and three doubles in that span.

"It was nice to bring him out today and let him hit and not think about any mechanics, and get a mindset about hitting the ball as hard as he can," Sveum said. "There were no mechanics going on out there."

Barney is batting .147 through 20 games, with one home run, four doubles and three RBI.

"It’s confidence as much as anything," Sveum said of the second baseman’s problems, "and understanding your job is to hit the ball hard and not try to do something with it every at-bat, just get a good pitch and hit it hard instead of trying to hit it to this field or that field or whatever. That was [the goal Wednesday] to have one mindset, hit the ball as hard as you can."

"He's been good lately, laying off pitches and getting his walks, but we all know there's that fine line [about being aggressive], and then you get too deep and you're 0-2 and missed two really good pitches to hit," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "He's always working and trying, but I think he needs to try to stick with one thing and go with that. (There's) a lot of changing every single day."