Angels can’t figure out Lee

The Angels spared themselves the indignity of being on the wrong end of a historic moment Tuesday night when Mike Napoli broke up Cliff Lee’s no-hitter with a one-out double in the sixth inning and scored on Reggie Willits’ two-out single.

But that was pretty much the extent of the Angels’ offense in an uninspiring 5-1 loss to Cleveland in Angel Stadium, a game in which Lee, the Indians left-hander, needed only 102 pitches to carve up the Angels for a complete game three-hitter, sending the Angels to their third straight loss and fifth loss in six games.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Lee -- he pitched a terrific game,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But we’ve been struggling to get guys on and get them in. Some of our guys have been pressing a bit.”

The Angels wasted a solid effort by starter Ervin Santana, who gave up three runs and seven hits -- including a first-inning RBI single and a fourth-inning solo home run to catcher Victor Martinez -- in seven innings and struck out dangerous No. 3 hitter Travis Hafner four times.

Pitchers such as John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jarrod Washburn have expressed frustration with the Angels’ sluggish offense over the years, “but I don’t have to get upset, because one day I know we’re going to start hitting and put it all together,” Santana said.

Injuries to Garret Anderson, Howie Kendrick and Juan Rivera, and an overall lack of power have put a drain on the offense, and you can see the pressure mounting on slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who, eager to get good pitches to hit, swung at first pitches in three of four at-bats Tuesday night, making two first-pitch outs.

“We need some guys back in the lineup, and we need some guys to start squaring balls up,” Scioscia said. “Some guys are soft. There’s not one blanket cure-all for the team. Each player has a different challenge.”

Of growing concern has been designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand, who has six hits in his last 39 at-bats with no runs batted in over his last 10 games.

Hillenbrand went 0 for 3 with two infield pop-ups Tuesday. He’s hitting .225 with two extra-base hits, both doubles, and seven RBIs this season and has failed to make solid contact consistently.

Hillenbrand, who averaged 18 homers and 82 RBIs over the last five seasons and is one of the players the Angels are relying on to protect Guerrero, was slowed for the first few weeks of the season by a groin strain, “but I don’t even think the injury is any part of it right now,” he said.

“I don’t make excuses when I’m not going good. I’m not getting the job done now, and because the team is relying on me to produce, I need to turn things around. My performance is unacceptable.”

Scioscia thinks Hillenbrand has been too passive at times and too aggressive at times, a malady that seems to afflict a number of Angels. “Right now, he’s searching,” Scioscia said of Hillenbrand.

“It seems like I have two quality at-bats a game, and an at-bat or two that are really ridiculous, like the one in the ninth inning Sunday,” Hillenbrand said, referring to his grounder to the mound that ended the inning with the winning run on third.

“I got a first-pitch fastball, middle in. Eight out of 10 times, I do something with that pitch, and I didn’t. That’s what’s frustrating, missing pitches I shouldn’t for the quality of player I am. I guarantee you, no one is more frustrated or more ticked off than myself.”

Hillenbrand isn’t the only bottom-of-the-order hitter struggling. First baseman Casey Kotchman, who usually bats fifth, is in a one-for-17 slump, and Napoli, who has the power to hit sixth or seventh but has been batting eighth, is hitting .194 with one homer and three RBIs.

“The need for guys behind Vlad to start picking it up is vital,” Scioscia said. “We need guys to hit with runners in scoring position. We’ve been hit and miss this year.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com