Conor Gillaspie provides the drive Angels need to end losing streak

Apparently, Conor Gillaspie couldn’t wait, and it was hard to blame him. Before he looped a high, arcing fly ball toward the right-field stands in the sixth inning Monday night, the Angels had not led in 43 innings, spanning parts of six games.

In that time, their losing streak had grown to the longest in baseball, six games, they had lost nine of 10 and their play had posed a critical question: was their lineup deep enough to beat good pitching?

Then, Gillaspie’s high fly ball plunked down over the fence. By the time it landed, Gillaspie had run so fast he’d nearly caught shortstop Erick Aybar somewhere near second base.

Very shortly afterward, he tapped home plate to, finally, give the Angels a lead they wouldn’t surrender. They went on to win, 5-4, over the Cleveland Indians to snap the streak and eat into the Houston Astros’ lead in the American League West for the first time in more than a week.

With the Astros’ loss Monday, the Angels are now three games back.

“We’re a better team than we showed the past 10 games,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

They made a better showing Monday.

“I think it’s the type of wins like this that get the team back on track,” starting pitcher Garrett Richards said.

The Angels have migrated between extremes for more than a month. Not long ago, they won 17 of 20 to briefly take the divisional lead. Immediately after came an offensive recession, a quiet trade deadline, a tired bullpen, a sweep by the Astros in Houston, a toothless series against the Dodgers and two walk-off defeats — all adding up to six losses in a row.

In all of that time, the Angels showed an eagerness to pound mediocre pitching and an equal inability to grind out wins against aces.

Recently, the Angels have had the misfortune of facing July’s American League pitcher of the month, Scott Kazmir, who blanked them for 72/3 innings in Houston, and the National League pitcher of the month, Clayton Kershaw, who did the same for eight innings over the weekend. In between, they lost to Cy Young Award candidate Zack Greinke.

On Monday, they drew the AL’s reigning Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber. But at least they were also throwing their own best pitcher.

Richards cracked early with three runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Yan Gomes. Pitching coach Mike Butcher visited the mound after just three batters. After the inning, Richards walked slowly off the mound and disappeared into the tunnel.

After that, he dominated. He allowed just three more hits over 71/3 innings. He struck out 11 batters, tying a career high. In all, he gave up four runs.

“I put us in a hole early but I told myself I can still make an outing of this,” Richards said. “I think that’s part of maturing and evolving as a starting pitcher in this league.”

Kluber, meanwhile, cruised through four innings but allowed two runs in the fifth and then three in the sixth, capped by Gillaspie’s home run. The Angels tagged him for 10 hits and five runs in 52/3 innings.

That Gillaspie provided the game-winning home run was especially encouraging. The Angels’ strategy leading up to the July 31 trade deadline was to acquire depth over more expensive, more high-impact bats.

Gillaspie was, perhaps, the most obscure of all the Angels’ recent additions. But he has been the most productive. In 58 games with the White Sox this season, he batted .237 with three home runs and 15 runs batted in. In seven games with the Angels, Gillaspie is hitting .286 with one home run and six RBIs.

Scioscia said Gillaspie is beginning to get comfortable with the team, and is growing familiar with the Angel Stadium dimensions.

“I have no idea how the ball carries here at night,” Gillaspie said. “So I try never to take anything for granted. So I was running.”

Until the ball cleared the wall, and he broke into a trot.

Up Next

Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker (5-7, 4.24 ERA) will face Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 4.03) at Angel Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.

zach.helfand@latimes.com