Calhoun learning from both skids and streaks

ANAHEIM -- After an 0-for-19 slump in the middle of August, Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun has gotten back into a rhythm at the plate.

Calhoun had just one plate appearance Saturday and popped out to shortstop in the seventh inning, ending a career-long hitting streak at eight games, but he hit .327 over his last 16 games entering Sunday. He then homered in his first at-bat Sunday in the series finale against the Angels.

Asked about the difference between his slump and current hot streak, Calhoun conceeded that there was simply nowhere to go but up.

"Nothing special; it's easy to pick it up after you're in an 0-for-19 slump or whatever it was," Calhoun said. "It's just going out and trying to help the team win and some things going my way to turn it around a little bit."

And Calhoun has turned it around. The outfielder has raised his batting average from .239 on Aug. 29 to .263 over nine games, and with Peter Bourjos most likely out for the rest of the season, Calhoun will get several opportunities to prove himself for 2014 and beyond.

Although the rest of Calhoun's season -- just like that of J.B. Shuck and Collin Cowgill -- may be a bit of an audition for the future, that is the furthest thing from Calhoun's mind.

"This is my first real experience in the big leagues, and I'm learning a lot, but I'm not thinking about next year and what this means," Calhoun said. "I'm day to day, and I'm here today, looking to help the guys win today."