Monday's pregame Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz stays confident

Asked if he was frustrated by a current 8-for-53 slide the past 14 games, right fielder Nelson Cruz responded with a question of his own.

"Why would I get frustrated?" he said Monday. "I know what I can do. I can't be frustrated. There's nothing I can do but keep working."

He's going to keep playing, said manager Ron Washington. A day off or a DH day could be looming if Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton can stay healthy.

"He's one of the guys we've got a saddle on," Washington said. "He's just got to keep working, and I'll keep sending him out there."

Koji Uehara is back in Baltimore, where he broke into the major leagues after a career in Japan. He continues to live here, and his son, Kaz, was with him in the clubhouse before the game. Uehara has been flourishing on the mound of late, with five straight perfect outings. He said the No. 1 reason for his recent success is that he feels better than he did early in the season.

The star of the day in Baltimore is former Rangers first baseman Chris Davis, who tossed two scoreless innings Sunday and was the winning pitcher in a 17-inning marathan against Boston. The win gave the Orioles the best record in the major leagues. Davis greeted the Rangers during early batting practice, and then was greeted by a large media contingent at his locker.

"I don't ever want to do it again," Davis said.

Washington, who strongly opposes the use of position players as pitchers, said that he would use Mitch Moreland. The first baseman was an effective reliever in college and flirted with becoming a pitcher his first few seasons after the Rangers drafted him.

-- Jeff Wilson