Stars und Sternchen! » h treatment and has not been quite the same disrupt

To say Kole Calhoun was struggling would be an understatement.

When the Los Angeles Angels‘ right fielder was placed on the disabled list June 2 with a strained right oblique Phil Haynes Jersey , he was in a 12-for-122 slump (.098), dropping his season average to .145.

“Every day is a new day,” Calhoun told the Orange County Register last week. “You’ve still got to go out and perform. I’m not thinking about it much honestly. I just want to go out and have a good game. Just going out and trying to help the team win.”

He did that Wednesday, going 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs as the Angels snapped the host Seattle Mariners‘ eight-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory. The teams wrap up their three-game series Thursday night at Safeco Field.

Calhoun has hit two home runs in his past three games after hitting just three in his previous 62. Since returning from the DL on June 18, he’s batting .306 (15-for-49) with three doubles, four home runs, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.

That’s helped Calhoun raise his batting average to .180.

He even returned to the leadoff spot in the batting order last week in Baltimore, a spot he held in previous seasons.

“Kole has made some adjustments and hopefully it will pay off,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told The Register.

Scioscia said one key for Calhoun is he’s been more selective at the plate as of late.

“He’s had a good eye in previous years,” Scioscia said. “It’s been a part of his game, but it’s been elusive this year.”

The Angels will send rookie right-hander Jaime Barria (5-4, 3.40 ERA) to the mound Thursday in place of left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a right adductor strain. Barria suffered a 6-3 loss on June 12 at Seattle, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings.

The Mariners are scheduled to start left-hander Marco Gonzales (8-5 Ugo Amadi Jersey , 3.77 ERA). Gonzales is 0-0 with a 4.66 ERA in four career starts against the Angels, including two earlier this season.

Gonzales is coming off his first career complete game in a 4-1 victory against Kansas City. Gonzales lost the shutout bid on Mike Moustakas’ two-strike, two-out single in the ninth inning.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work this year and having the right guys behind me,” Gonzales said after his last start. “Those guys played incredible defense behind me and when your team gives you a lead in the first half of the game, you inch closer to eyeing the end. From the first inning I just had the mentality that this is my game and I’m going to go as deep as I can.”

Gonzales has been a big part of Seattle’s success this season after earning the No. 5 spot in the rotation this spring.

“He’s matured, there’s no question,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Gonzales. “It always works better when guys earn it. He has a lot of confidence right now because everything that’s happened this year, he’s earned. From coming into spring training, winning a spot in our rotation, he continues to build throughout the season.”

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have hit their familiar stride on defense during the second half of the season, after some uncharacteristic earlier struggles.There’s been no better example of this lately than Anthony Barr.“He’s always been a good player,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “I think he’s probably taking it to another level right now.”Barr had two of the team’s nine sacks in the 41-17 victory over Miami last week , some obvious evidence of his value. The fifth-year outside linebacker Dwayne Haskins Jersey , playing on an expiring contract, has often made an impact for the Vikings in ways that have stretched beyond basic statistics.The fact that he was picked for a fourth straight Pro Bowl, joining defensive end Danielle Hunter and safety Harrison Smith from the defense, with only 13½ career sacks is a good place to start.“I do what I’m asked to do. I think everybody gets caught up in numbers and stats and all that. I may not blow you away, but I think I bring a lot of other things to the table that may go unnoticed from the common eye,” Barr said on Wednesday before practice. “I’ve got coaches and players coming up to me and telling me, ‘You’re doing a great job. Great player,’ this and that.”In the four-down-linemen scheme the Vikings have used under Zimmer, Barr’s position isn’t set up to produce league-leader-type numbers. He has progressed as a pass rusher to the point, though, where opponents are bracing for him to blitz whether or not he storms the backfield or drops back in coverage. Zimmer, who has been critical of Barr at times throughout his career, also complimented his advancements in communication, leadership and recognition on the field.“When you see him going downhill and working his pass-rush moves on people it’s hard to stop him D.K. Metcalf Jersey ,” Smith said. “He’s got the body of a D-end, but he can run about as well as our safeties. So he’s kind of got it all.”Barr missed three games with a hamstring injury. He said the absence helped him return stronger physically and mentally.“You get time to look yourself in the mirror and figure out things you maybe could do better and different ways you can help,” Barr said. “Obviously, I feel we’ve been playing to my strengths the last few weeks.”Smith also became a four-time Pro Bowl selection. With Hunter, who’s tied for second in the NFL with 14½ sacks now on the list, the Vikings have six players on defense who’ve been a Pro Bowl pick. They’re leading the league again on third downs with a 28.6 percent conversation rate allowed and are first with 47 sacks .“There tends to be always streaks here and there. I remember earlier this year everybody was kind of down on us after a couple of games,” Smith said. “This league changes fast, and you’ve just got to be constantly working.”One of those past Pro Bowl selections was defensive end Everson Griffen, who missed five games while receiving mental health treatment and has not been quite the same disruptive force upon his return that he’s been before. Griffen was announced on Wednesday as the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner as the player best exemplifying commitment to sportsmanship and courage.“It’s been a rough year for me, but I’m still here,” Griffen said. “I’m still standing, and that’s the main thing. I’m here to fight. I’m a fighter.”