Slumping Trout falls HR short of cycle in 4-hit effort

Mike Trout tore the cover off the ball against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, but in the end it didn't matter.

The Los Angeles Angels superstar went 4-for-4 and ended up a home run short of the cycle in his team's 9-2 loss against the Indians.

Cleveland lit up Angels starter Jered Weaver for eight earned runs across his six innings of work.

Trout had the number of Indians starter Josh Tomlin, hitting a single, double, and triple against the right-hander, who only allowed six hits.

"I've been feeling good at the plate the last couple days," Trout told reporters. "Obviously the results aren't there, but that's baseball. You have to stay positive. Once you start thinking negative and trying to change a bunch of things, that's when you get in trouble."

The performance of last season's American League MVP was a good sign for the Angels, as the slugger has struggled in August.

Trout jammed his wrist in late July, which could explain the August slump, but he insists the injury has nothing to do with his poor performance.

"It’s just timing," he told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. "When your timing is messed up, you don’t have any rhythm at the plate. Some games I feel good. Some games I feel off. I’m just trying to get in a rhythm."

Manager Mike Scioscia stuck by his player's assessment, and isn't concerned about the Angels' franchise player.

"Mike is not going to make excuses," said Scioscia. "He swung the bat really well when he first came back from the wrist injury. He says he feels fine. The medical department says he’s fine, so I don’t think there’s any carryover."

The Angels have had a disastrous August with their slugger struggling, finishing last in team average, runs batted in, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and runs in MLB.

Los Angeles' record in August is 10-18, and they sit three games out of an AL wild-card spot.