Angels suffer another insult to add to injury

The Angels might yet trade for a first baseman. If they do, it might be too late to save their shortstop, and perhaps their season.

The Angels got clobbered again by the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, this time by a 7-1 score, but that was the least of their worries. The greatest of their worries was the possibility that shortstop Erick Aybar could sit out several weeks because of a knee injury.

“We need him,” center fielder Torii Hunter said.

For the Angels, the game was dreadful. Ervin Santana gave up a season-high six runs, all in the first two innings. Catcher Mike Napoli threw a ball back to Santana and missed him.

Hunter was thrown out trying to steal third base, with none out, the Angels down by six runs and with a left-handed hitter at-bat.

“I think Torii was a little frustrated,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He was just trying to make something happen. He’s sitting there looking at our offense not getting much going.”

On the heels of an 11-3 trip, the Angels have lost consecutive games to the Brewers — the fourth-place team in the National League Central — by a combined score of 19-3.

“It seemed like we were a little dead,” Hunter said.

Santana offered a lighter response.

“I guess we have to keep playing in our gray uniforms,” he said.

Aybar was not available for comment Tuesday, the day after his left knee was injured in a collision with Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee.

Aybar was diagnosed with “meniscal damage” after an MRI examination Tuesday, but the Angels said nothing else except that he would be re-evaluated Friday.

Scioscia said he is optimistic because Aybar felt better Tuesday. He said Lewis Yocum, the Angels’ medical director, had not broached the subject of surgery.

“Sometimes these things just hit a wall,” Scioscia said. “Then you have to go in and do something. Sometimes you breeze by, and you’re ready to go out and play in four or five days.”

If surgery is required for a tear, the Angels could lose their shortstop and leadoff hitter until after the All-Star break.

They already have lost their first baseman and cleanup hitter, Kendry Morales, for the season. They have not settled on a replacement, and so Kevin Frandsen made his first major league appearance at the position Monday.

Frandsen made a poor throw to second base, so wide that Aybar had to extend his right leg awkwardly while trying to keep his left leg on the bag. Aybar was injured when McGehee slid into him.

Scioscia absolved McGehee of any ill intent, but the Angel Stadium fans booed him Tuesday.

The home team merited few cheers. The Angels lost consecutive home games for the first time since May 11-12.

If the Brewers win Wednesday, they would be the first team this season to sweep the Angels in Anaheim.

Dave Bush, who had not won since April 20, carried a shutout into the eighth inning. He gave up one run in 71/3 innings.

“Bush really wasn’t doing anything fancy out there,” Scioscia said. “He just changed speeds and made his pitches.”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com