St. Louis Cardinals

The pitchers adjusted to Paul

DeJong after his hot start, and now the rookie shortstop is trying to adjust back.

DeJong broke an 0-for-16 skid by going 6-for-14 (.429) in the weekend series at Cincinnati, including a home run to propel St. Louis to victory Saturday.

DeJong became the first Cardinals player to reach 15 homers this season, doing it in his 57th game. He began the week with a .284 batting average.

“Pitchers know I’m aggressive in the zone and aggressive outside the zone,” DeJong said. “I’m seeing more patterns. It’s kind of a cat-and-mouse game.”

DeJong homered 13 times in 48 games for Class AAA Memphis this season.

“When you do it at Memphis, you don’t know how it’s going to translate here,” manager Mike

Matheny said. “It’s nice that he’s been able to make the adjustments. He’s got a pretty special skill set.” Center fielder Dexter Fowler (left forearm) was activated Monday, much earlier than expected, and outfielder Stephen

Piscotty was optioned to Memphis. Fowler had been on the disabled list since July 25.

Right- hander Mike Leake lost Friday and is 0-5 lifetime against the Reds, who chose him in the first round of the 2009 draft. He allowed three runs in six innings in his latest defeat.