CLEVELAND — In what manager Manny Acta called a “mental break,” scuffling right fielder Shin-Soo Choo was given the night off Saturday.

Choo, who many believed was poised to have a breakout season, has instead slumped through the majority of it, batting just .242 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 54 games. He has one homer since April 29 and none since May 13, failing to drive in a run since May 22.

“I think (he’s pressing),” Acta said of Choo, who is batting .182 (10-for-55) with runners in scoring position. “It’s normal. He’s had success here the last two years and he knows he’s very important to us. He feels he’s representing the Cleveland Indians, but also all of South Korea.

“I just want to give him some time to relax, so he can realize it’s still early.”

Just over two months into the regular season and it’s already been a trying year for Choo, who was arrested for DUI on May 2 in Sheffield Lake.

“That’s extra stuff that’s been brought into his life,” Acta said. “He’s been over here for 10 years playing baseball and that’s the first mistake he’s made off the field. He’s carrying a lot of weight because of that.”

Also prompting Acta to rest Choo is that today will be a day off for Grady Sizemore and the manager wanted at least one of them in the lineup in the two games.

Still down

Third baseman Jack Hannahan missed his second straight game with soreness in his left hamstring. He was replaced again by utility infielder Adam Everett.

The Indians still don’t view the injury as serious with Acta saying Hannahan was available to pinch hit Saturday night.

Pitchers BP

Indians pitchers began taking batting practice Saturday in preparation for a stretch of nine games (June 24-July 3) at National League Parks.

Cleveland hosts Pittsburgh and Colorado (June 17-22) in three-game series before hitting the road for three-game sets with San Francisco (June 24-26), Arizona (June 27-29) and Cincinnati (July 1-3).

Minor details

Triple-A Columbus reliever Nick Hagadone allowed seven earned runs in his first six appearances after being promoted from Double-A Akron, including four in just 2/3 of an inning in a 10-4 loss to Louisville on Friday. Hagadone, acquired along with Justin Masterson in the Victor Martinez trade with Boston in 2009, went 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 games (22 2/3 innings) for the Aeros. … Class A Lake County center fielder LeVon Washington (second-round draft pick in 2010) went 3-for-5 with three runs in the Captains’ 8-7 victory over Clinton on Friday. He began the season at extended spring training with as leg injury, entering Saturday batting .225 with two RBIs in 24 games.

Roundin’ third

Second baseman Orlando Cabrera entered Saturday just three hits shy of 2,000 for his career. … Backup catcher Lou Marson entered Saturday with just one hit in 33 at-bats against right-handed pitching. … Tom Widenbauer, Cleveland’s minor league field coordinator, filled in as first base coach for Sandy Alomar, who attended the graduation of his daughter from Westlake High School. … Today, 1:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Talbot (2-1, 4.50) vs. Wilson (5-3, 3.32).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND – The wheels are wobbling. Are the Indians about to fall down?

Another game against the Rangers on Friday night brought another loss for Cleveland, which was pummeled 11-2 by the defending American League champions.

The Indians, who still own the best record in the majors at 33-22, have lost seven of their last 10 games, including four straight at home for the first time this season.

But despite the recent woes, Cleveland still sits atop the Central Division, owning a 4½-game lead. That’s good enough for manager Manny Acta, who put a positive spin on his team’s rough stretch.

“I feel good,” Acta said. “We won two out of the last four. That’s .500. That’s not bad. You see two out of seven or whatever it is, but I don’t look that far back.

“We’re going through a rough spot like everybody else. I’m still thankful we haven’t gone through those long (losing) stretches. Knock on wood that we don’t.”

On this night, the Indians were done in by a red-hot pitcher, Texas starter Alexi Ogando, who remained unbeaten at 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA in 11 starts, after allowing just a run on four hits and striking out six over eight innings.

The right-hander shut out Cleveland on two hits over the first five innings, allowing his only run when Shin-Soo Choo grounded into a double play in the sixth.

“Ogando overmatched us pretty much,” Acta said. “He was very tough. We couldn’t do much with him at all.”

“It’s the big leagues. There’s great pitching all around,” said Cleveland first baseman Matt LaPorta, who struck out in two of his three at-bats against Ogando. “We just have to go out and play our game, have quality at-bats and try to score some runs.”

Despite Ogando’s domination, the Indians stayed in the game through six innings, thanks to starting pitcher Justin Masterson, who allowed just two runs over the first six innings on eight hits.

The right-hander wound up allowing four runs while surrendering 10 hits and striking out seven over 61⁄3 innings.

“I feel like I pitched pretty well,” Masterson said. “You look at the line and it doesn’t necessarily show it. Really, they were just finding some holes. I’m pretty happy with what I gave. I’m not happy losing.”

Winning hasn’t been on the menu for Masterson as of late. After going 5-0 with a 2.18 ERA in April, he hasn’t won since – amassing an 0-4 record over his last seven starts. He hasn’t won since April 26.

“That has nothing to do with Justin,” Acta said. “He can only pitch. We still have to score and catch the ball behind him.”

And for the bullpen to pick him up, which it didn’t Friday.

Left-hander Tony Sipp, who has been impenetrable for much of the season, entered the game for Masterson with two on and one out in the seventh, promptly allowing a three-run home run to Josh Hamilton. Prior to the at-bat, left-handed hitters had gone 1-for-28 off Sipp with one single.

Sipp got an out before allowing a double to Adrian Beltre, followed by another homer to Nelson Cruz that Texas up 7-1 and the game away.

“We need to go back to throwing strikes at the knees instead of the ones that are up and show up on the scoreboard,” Acta said.

Since May 3, the Indians have been a mediocre team, going 13-14. But the silver lining is that they have lost no ground in the division standings.

“We’ve had a couple tough ones, but I like where we’re at,” Masterson said.

The Indians played without third baseman Jack Hannahan, who was a late scratch with tightness in his left hamstring. Acta said Hannahan sustained the injury while fielding a groundball Thursday night.

“(Head trainer) Lonnie (Soloff) doesn’t feel it’s anything serious. It was precautionary,” Acta said.

TONIGHT

• WHO: Cleveland vs. Texas
• TIME: 7:05
• WHERE: Progressive Field
• PITCHERS: Carmona (3-6, 5.31 ERA) vs. Holland (4-1, 4.96)
• TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM