Elvis, Washington have chat about slump

ANAHEIM -- Rangers manager Ron Washington decided Friday was the right time to have a one-on-one chat with struggling shortstop Elvis Andrus. Washington said he wants to see Andrus playing with more energy.

"We want him to be Elvis," Washington said. "One thing about Elvis is he plays with a lot of energy. If we can do that, we'll get him back to what he is. He was so involved in not being successful that he didn't know. I've got to remind him. He's only human.

'"It's focus. That's all it is. If he's focused on what he's doing, the energy will be there."

Andrus went into Friday's game hitless in his last 14 at-bats and with one hit in his last 28 at-bats. That's dropped his batting average to .229. Andrus has also committed seven errors, tied with Indians catcher Yan Gomes for the most at any position by a player in the American League. The Rangers were off on Thursday so Andrus got a break having been the only player on the team to start every game on defense without being used at designated hitter.

"I seem a little lost but that's baseball," Andrus said. "A day off is good. Every day off you enjoy, relax and be ready for the next game. You can't try to do too much, I just have to get my swing back."