Andrus returns to No. 7 spot in lineup

BALTIMORE -- After two games in his customary No. 2 spot in the order, Elvis Andrus was dropped back to the seventh spot for Monday's game against the Orioles. The move comes even though Andrus entered Monday having hit in four straight games and was batting .289 in his last 12 games. That's not exactly a hot streak, but Andrus is still trying to find himself offensively during what has been a rough first half of the season.

"I feel better … much better," Andrus said. "But I need to keep working. It hasn't been an easy year but I think it's turning around. I have plenty of at-bats ahead. I still think the best of me is coming soon."

Andrus went into Monday's game with the Orioles hitting .244 with a .301 on-base percentage and a .285 slugging percentage. Those would be the lowest in the first half of a season over his first five years in the big leagues. As a rookie in 2009, Andrus hit .253 with a .315 on-base percentage and a .350 slugging percentage.

Andrus' offensive numbers are why he won't be going back to the All-Star Game for the third time in the last four years. J.J. Hardy of the Orioles was voted as the starter and Jhonny Peralta of the Tigers was selected as his backup.

"I still have plenty of years left," Andrus said. "The guys who are going deserve to go. I don't deserve it. That's the way it is. I still have plenty of more years left to make it."