Erick Aybar’s month-long hot streak sparked by marathon at-bat?

CHICAGO — Angels Manager Mike Scioscia couldn’t say for certain whether a 12-pitch at-bat that resulted in a third-inning single in a 9-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on June 12 is what sparked Erick Aybar’s month-long hot streak.

Nor could he rule it out.

“I guess you can rationalize and go back and say that’s why this happened,” Scioscia said before Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field.

“There’s nothing wrong with a 12-pitch at-bat. You can connect some of the dots. The quality of his at-bats has improved, no doubt about it. The last 75 at-bats, you’re seeing a tough out from both sides of the plate.”

Aybar was hitting .257 before that game in Camden Yards, and in his first at-bat he worked the second-longest plate appearance of his career, which ended with a single to center.

In the seventh, with the Angels trailing, 6-4, Aybar lined a three-run triple to the gap in right-center off reliever Pedro Strop to key a six-run inning. The switch-hitting shortstop hasn’t cooled since.

In 24 games, including the June 12 game, Aybar went 31 for 92 (.337) with 12 multi-hit games and 19 runs batted in to push his average to .285 entering Wednesday.

He led off Wednesday night’s game against the Cubs with a double to right to spark a five-run first inning that included Mike Trout’s run-scoring double, Josh Hamilton’s three-run homer and Mark Trumbo’s solo shot.

“He’s using the whole field,” Scioscia said of Aybar. “That’s when he’s at his best. You aren’t seeing the roll-overs to second base.”

ALSO:

Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick sees benefits of day off

Angels pitchers Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas take steps toward return

Angels’ Mike Trout plays in Albert Pujols’ gold event, doesn’t worry about swing