ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre looks like he's running better these days, willing to push it just a little bit more. Instead of limping around the bases, Beltre has smoothed things out as his hamstrings recover.

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"I feel better," Beltre said. "I'm not going to go 100 precent, but I do feel better and am easing into it little-by-little."

Beltre said if he had to put a figure on it, he's at about 75 to 80 percent, an improvement from even a week or two ago.

"I'm pleased," Beltre said. "My focus is to do what I need to do to stay in the lineup and be good enough to play. I don't want to get extended and do something. I'm going to keep going as it is."

Beltre is certainly on base a lot, as he continues to swing a hot bat. He hit .385 on the homestand with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs. He has a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .368 during that run.

Other notes:

* Brandon Snyder had a brief conversation with home plate umpire Jim Wolf prior to catching the final inning of Wednesday's 21-8 blowout loss to the Mariners.

"I told him it had been a while," Snyder said. "He said, 'You mean since you last caught Koji?' I said, 'No, since I last caught anybody.' We both laughed. It helped relax me."

Snyder said once he got in, it was like 2006, when he was last catching. The score of the game and the situation allowed Snyder to get an opportunity to catch. But don't expect to see it often.

Manager Ron Washington said he'll only use Snyder in a blowout situation. He's not going to pinch run for one of his catchers and insert Snyder into a close game. Washington wants to leave that to his experienced catchers.

* Elvis Andrus said he took some time to rest after getting Wednesday off and then adding Thursday's off day to that. He watched some video, prepared for the Angels' pitchers, but also took some down time.

"It was nice," Andrus said. "I was able to work on some things even by watching lots of video. I watched some mistakes, but also some good things to help me.

* Josh Hamilton said he felt better Friday and he looked better, too. He went out for early batting practice and said he has more energy.

* Robbie Ross will be milking a cow as part of a competition prior to tonight's game. We'll have a full report for you after the game and Ross' thoughts on it.

* Nolan Ryan throws out the ceremonial first pitch and will get a specially designed ring as part of his membership in the Angels Hall of Fame.