Blue Jays' Pompey: 'I've been playing somewhat scared'

The learning curve slapped Toronto Blue Jays rookie center fielder Dalton Pompey across the face Sunday afternoon. 

The 22-year-old's day started by misjudging a ball in center field that ended up over his head before bouncing off his glove to plate three Atlanta Braves runs. 

(Courtesy: FOX Sports South)

"We lose that game because I don't make that play and I take full responsibility for that," Pompey told reporters after the game. 

The missed catch wasn't his only blunder on the day. The third inning brought upon a throwing error that allowed another run to score when Pompey airmailed his toss to third base. 

Pompey ended the afternoon by striking out swinging to end the game in a 5-2 loss. 

It's been a rough adjustment for the Mississauga, Ont. native, a season removed from starting the year in Single-A. 

Entering Sunday, Pompey was hitting .182/.265/.364 with a pair of home runs and 11 strikeouts. Following the loss he admitted that his rough start has been contributed to by nerves. 

"I've found ever since the season started I've been playing somewhat scared just because I don't want to make a mistake," Pompey said. 

If there is a silver lining in what turned out to be a terrible individual day for Pompey at the Rogers Centre, it's that he hopes that miscues will teach him to be more aggressive. 

"My whole life, I've played aggressively and for some reason I haven't been as aggressive as I can be these past 10 games. I need to take a situation like this and go back to being the player I was."