NEW YORK \u2014 Nolan Schanuel is gradually getting his numbers where he expects them to be.<\/p>\n
Schanuel had a hit on Saturday<\/a> and two on Sunday<\/a>. He also walked three times in the two games, and he didn\u2019t strike out.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just working through it,\u201d Schanuel said before Monday\u2019s game against the New York Yankees. \u201cFinding that right swing.\u201d<\/p>\n Schanuel came into Monday hitting .232 with a .698 OPS, which is still down from last year\u2019s marks of .264 and .742. His strikeout rate has increased from 13% to 15% and his walk rate has also risen from 11% to 12%. Both numbers are still better than the major league average.<\/p>\n Schanuel said one of the issues lately has been a sore ankle from a minor injury he suffered during the Seattle series last weekend. He said it wasn\u2019t serious, so he played through it, but it\u2019s nonetheless better now.<\/p>\n Manager Kurt Suzuki has kept Schanuel in the No. 3 spot in the lineup against right-handed pitchers throughout his slump.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an important spot because leadoff hitter Zach Neto (a .368 on-base percentage) and No. 2 hitter Mike Trout (.400) have been giving Schanuel ample opportunities with runners on base. Schanuel ranked second on the team with 11 RBIs, despite the slump.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me to have Neto and Trouty in front of me and getting on base, whether it\u2019s them on first or second, my job is to get them over and get them in,\u201d Schanuel said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been doing a good job of getting on base for me, and I feel like I\u2019ve been pretty 50-50 on getting them in.\u201d<\/p>\n Suzuki said he\u2019s still seen good things from Schanuel, despite the numbers.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been having good at-bats,\u201d Suzuki said. \u201cThey just haven\u2019t been falling. To see him get a couple knocks yesterday in a big spot was definitely great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n SORIANO HONORED<\/p>\n Right-hander Jos\u00e9 Soriano was named American League Player of the Week after allowing one run in 15 innings in his two starts, victories over the Atlanta Braves<\/a> and Cincinnati Reds<\/a>.<\/p>\n