C.J. CRON drove in the only Angel run in the team’s 2-1 loss Thursday to the Indians (Flickr/Keith Allison).

It’s been said that April is the cruelest month, but July isn’t exactly turning out to be a walk in the ballpark for the Los Angeles Angels. After Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians, the locals have dropped 12 of 19 games.

With the defeat, the team’s overall record goes to 49-54, and chances of a wild card berth are – while not gone – looking a bit thin. The Angels are in fourth place in the five-team American League West, and there are four teams ahead of them in the race for the final playoff spot.

Against the Tribe on Thursday, the Halos outhit the home team 7-5 but were unable to make the most of those hits, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The lone Angel run came in the top of the fifth when C.J. Cron singled home Kole Calhoun.

Cleveland got its runs on a second inning homer by Carlos Santana and a seventh inning RBI single by Francisco Lindor, bringing in Brandon Guyer.

The Orange County team wasted a strong start by J.C. Ramirez (9-9) who worked 6.2 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. He struck out six batters but walked four.

For the Indians, Trevor Bauer (9-8) made it through eight innings, yielding seven hits but just the one run. He struck out six batters and walked one.

Now the Angels are off to Toronto on Friday to take on the Blue Jays (48-54) in a three-game series that concludes on Sunday. Parker Bridwell (4-1) will make the start for the Halos.