In the top of the third inning of the Athletics’ 6-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Elvis Andrus practically set up camp during his at-bat.
Andrus and Seattle starter Chris Flexen battled for 13 pitches, ending in a double for the shortstop.
It was a glimpse into what the A’s had hoped Andrus would become when they acquired him from the Texas Rangers back in February.
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“It’s what Elvis does, he’s a pest, he makes you work,” Athletics manager Bob Melvin said after the game. “He’s swinging the bat really well right now, hitting the ball the other way, pulling some balls, made a great play at short today. We’re starting to see him definitely do his best work this season for us.”
Andrus went 2-for-4 on Wednesday night. In his last nine games, Andrus is slashing .423/.483/.538.
A’s designated hitter Mitch Moreland admitted he might have been the guy on the team who was the least worried about Andrus' slow start.
“I’ve just seen him for so long and he just finds ways to impact the game,” Moreland said. “You all have seen it on the bases with him you know getting the balk, or adding an extra-base here and there. He plays the game the right way, he’s grinding out his at-bats.
Oakland Athletics
In his first 15 games of the season, Andrus slashed just .135/.175/.192 with a .368 OPS. He had only seven hits in 57 trips to the plate.
“He’s been on a roll lately and it was just a matter of time before he got going,” Moreland said.
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Even as he struggled, Andrus didn't change. He maintained his laid-back, fun mentality the entire time. That was the one constant.
“The one thing about Elvis is he’s never going to change,” Moreland said. “He’s going to have a smile on his face, he’s going to be joking, he’s going to be keeping everything loose, that’s just who he is -- the game part of it, he knows that part’s going to come. I think we’re seeing both sides of it now. He’s still having fun every day in the clubhouse with the guys, but he’s getting back to his game on the field for sure.”