Mariners notebook: Nelson Cruz constantly looking to improve

Nelson Cruz brings a career-best 20-game hitting streak into Tuesday night’s game against the Orioles. He currently leads the Majors in hits with 139 and is tied for first in home runs with 33. The 33 home runs matches his second best yearly total and his .324 average is well above any average he has had in a full season. That number has been his focus. Although he has light-tower power, Cruz wants to be a well-rounded hitter.

“It’s still learning,” he said. “I think this is a year there will be more overall. There might be no homers for a while because of timing but I am fortunate to be able to hit homers throughout my career. To be able to hit above average and just take what the pitchers give me in many situations is definitely a big difference.”

Taking what the pitcher gives him has helped with the consistency. Cruz has gone hitless in consecutive games just six times this year. That includes one three-day hitless streak and one four-day hitless streak. The others were streaks of just two games. Consistency is something every hitter searches for. For Cruz, he looks for the spark around every corner.

“You look for feelings,” he explained. “In different occasions, a line drive the other way on a pitch that you feel like was a pitcher’s pitch and you hit it, that’s what can get you going. You also want to feel confident as a hitter.”

Being well prepared helps with the confidence and Cruz is constantly studying. From conversations with Edgar Martinez in the batting cages to pouring over the next day’s opposing pitcher reports before he goes to bed each night to talking with others in the game whenever he has the opportunity, Cruz is constantly asking questions.

“At the All-Star Game all the hitters just come up in the batting cages and everybody was hitting at the same time. That was a fun experience since I was watching everybody’s swings and I wanted to see what I could learn from them,” he said.

Detroit outfielder J.D. Martinez was a hitter Cruz specifically sought out at the All-Star Game to talk hitting.

“I was really impressed when he was hitting the ball when we were there,” Cruz said. “I always want to ask him, ‘What is your approach? What are you thinking? How can you dominate those inside pitches?’ He told me that he was thinking middle-in and he would try to hit it the other way when the pitch is in. I also talked to (Mike) Trout, (Albert) Pujols and you want to pick their brains to see what they’re thinking.”

These days you have to think these are two-way conversations with Trout and Pujols wanting to know what Cruz is thinking as it is Cruz atop the leaderboard in hits, tied with Trout for the home-run lead and showing no signs of slowing down.

Lineup!

Austin Jackson, CF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Seth Smith, LF
Mark Trumbo, DH
Logan Morrison, 1B
Brad Miller, SS
Mike Zunino, C

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Notes

• Logan Morrison is making just his second start since Aug. 1. A bruised thumb has kept Morrison out of some games but the priority of playing Jesus Montero has also contributed to his reduced playing time.

• Charlie Furbush is still not quite ready for his rehab assignment. He will travel with the team to Boston and throw a bullpen Saturday. The hope is he will be able to be sent out after that session.

• One thing Cruz has done in the past but is not doing now is hit with teammates’ bats from time to time. One of his favorites belonged to Baltimore’s starting pitcher, Chris Tillman.

“I just grab a bat. Sometimes by accident and it feels good and I’ll say, ‘Let me hit with this one,’ ” Cruz said. “I remember last year I was hitting with Chris Tillman’s bat. Any time I don’t get a hit, I grab any bat that feels good and then I get a hit or a home run. At the end, I told the clubhouse manager to order a few bats with his name so I can use it. It wasn’t about his name but about the way it felt.”

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