CLEVELAND — The magic returned to Progressive Field in the nick of time Monday night.

Jason Kipnis gets a hug from David Huff (31) after Kipnis drove in the winning run in the ninth inning yesterday. (AP photo.)

In the midst of a pennant race and seemingly en route to their fifth straight loss, the Indians produced a ninth-inning rally that propelled them to an improbable 3-2 victory over the Angels.

Down 2-1 in their last at-bat, Cleveland tied it on Travis Hafner’s double before Jason Kipnis drove in the winning run with his first career major league hit — a two-out single between first and second off Angels reliever Hisanori Takashi.

The scene conjured up memories from earlier in the season when Cleveland seemed to win at home in dramatic fashion on a nightly basis.

“We’ve done it so many times this year that is has grown into our clubhouse,” said Indians manager Manny Acta, whose club won for the 11th time in its last at-bat at home and recorded its 23rd come-from-behind victory of the season. “Our guys believe that we can do it. If we get to the ninth inning and the game is close, there’s no rolling over.”

The Indians scored a run in the first off Angels starter Dan Haren and led 1-0 until the eighth inning, when Los Angeles reversed the order on a two-run home run from Bobby Abreu off Vinnie Pestano.

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The game was low-scoring and tight thanks to sparkling efforts from Haren and Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona. Haren allowed just a run on three hits, while striking out 10 over 7 2⁄3 innings.

Carmona didn’t last as long, but he was more than effective, shutting out the Angels on four hits over six innings in what was his second straight positive outing since leaving the disabled list.

“Fausto had to labor a little bit,” Acta said. “He pitched behind in the count a lot. He had to work, but he gave us six scoreless innings.”

After generating two hits to score their run in the first inning, the Indians got only one more before rallying in the ninth against the Angels’ bullpen.

Closer Jordan Walden and his high-90s fastball were on the mound when Michael Brantley led off the final inning with a base hit and then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position.

Asdrubal Cabrera struck out, but Hafner delivered a double to left-center that scored Brantley with the tying run. Carlos Santana walked and Jack Hannahan was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and forcing the Angels into a gimmick defensive maneuver.

With Travis Buck at the plate, Los Angeles brought right fielder Torii Hunter into the infield between first and second, leaving just two players to patrol the outfield. It worked when Buck grounded to Hunter off Takashi and the outfielder made a infielder-like throw to the plate to cut down pinch runner Orlando Cabrera.

The bases were still full when Kipnis, promoted from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, produced his first hit in six big league at-bats.

“Breaking a losing streak and getting a win, that was the biggest part of the at-bat,” Kipnis said. “I couldn’t do it in the other at-bats, so I figured, ‘Why not do it in this one with everything on the line?’ ”

“Jason Kipnis couldn’t pick a better spot to get his first hit in the big leagues,” Acta said.

The Indians gained ground on the first-place Tigers in the Central Division standings, trailing Detroit by a game.

Though there are two-plus months left in the regular season, the Indians are still keeping tabs on their division rivals, with an eye on qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2007.

“After what we went through last year, why not start watching the scoreboard?” Acta said.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Jason Kipnis’ first major league hit was a big one.

Kipnis’ RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning Monday night lifted the Indians to a 3-2 victory over the Angels at Progressive Field.

The Indians snapped a four-game losing skid and won for the first time in six games at home.

CLEVELAND — It’s usually Indians hitters who let down starting pitcher Justin Masterson. Sunday at Progressive Field, the fielders joined the gang.

A pivotal error on rookie center fielder Ezequiel Carrera helped the White Sox to a 4-2 win and Masterson to another hard-luck loss, as the Indians continue to flounder at an inopportune point.

In a pennant race for the first time since 2007, Cleveland has dropped four straight — five consecutive at home — and trail the Tigers by two games in the Central Division standings. The Indians lead the third-place White Sox by just 2 1/2 games, Chicago beating them six times in seven games this season.

Their latest loss was earmarked by a season-high three errors from a normally sound defensive unit, the most costly coming in the sixth inning, when Carrera inexplicably dropped Adam Dunn’s fly ball that scored two runs.

Carrera went back on Dunn’s drive and appeared to have it located before stumbling and watching the ball carom off his glove to give Chicago a 3-1 lead an inning after his two-out single tied the game at one.

“I was right on it, then I stumbled a little bit at the warning track and the ball moved on me a little bit,” Carrera said through an interpreter. “I just missed it. A ball like that with the game on the line, I don’t feel good.”

Carrera, who was also picked off first base after drawing a walk to lead off the opening inning, wasn’t the only one.

Masterson, who allowed just one earned run on four hits over seven innings, was also sideswiped by two errors in the seventh on shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and catcher Carlos Santana that led to a run and the final count.

“Unfortunately, two of the best defenders on the field (Carrera and Cabrera) for us made errors that really hurt us,” manager Manny Acta said. The way we’re swinging the bats, you can’t be giving teams outs.”

The Indians swung the bats the way they normally do when Masterson is on the mound — or when they are facing Edwin Jackson, who improved to 9-1 lifetime with a 2.72 ERA in 15 games (14 starts against Cleveland).

The Indians have scored two runs or fewer in 10 of Masterson’s 21 starts and have scored one run or been shut out in six of them.

“He’s been phenomenal all season,” said designated hitter Travis Hafner, who had the last of the Indians’ five hits on the day, with a one-out single in the sixth. “Once again, we wasted his effort. I wish we would have played better for him.”

“Masterson was brilliant one more time,” Acta said. “I can’t even remember when he had a rough outing. He’s been so good all season. I’m so proud of him. Last year I had to defend the decision to let him start every fifth day.”

Masterson, who has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his last nine outings, is fighting the frustration.

“As a team, it was a game we should have won,” he said. “Me, personally, I have to go out and continue to battle. I felt like, for the most part, I did what I could to keep us in the game.

“There’s no time to weep or moan and feel sorry for anybody.”

Jackson’s ERA against Cleveland the lowest of any opposing pitcher since 2006, other than Nick Blackburn’s 2.43 ERA for the Twins. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA at Progressive Field, shutting the Indians out on two hits over the first four innings.

“Times like this, when you’re not scoring runs, guys have a tendency to try to do too much,” Hafner said. “We just need to do what we’re capable of doing.

“This is where you want to be (in a pennant race). We just have to play good baseball.”

Some fans who sat through another sweltering day in Cleveland had enough by the eighth inning. They gave Carrera a bronx cheer when he made a routine catch on a fly ball in the top of the inning, then booed All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera in the bottom when he failed to run to first after Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski dropped a third strike to end the inning.

At 51-48, the injury-depleted Indians are only three games above .500 for the first time since April 8 (5-2).

“We just need to win a ballgame,” Acta said. “That’s all.”

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND — If the Indians don’t make a move or two prior to the July 31 trading deadline, manager Manny Acta says it won’t be due to lack of effort.

“We’re trying real hard to get the right guy or right guys,” said Acta, whose club is searching for offensive assistance to help keep it afloat in the Central Division race. “I think if anything is going to happen, it’s going to happen this week. (Teams) are trying to hold on until the last day.

“If nothing happened because we didn’t try, yes (I would be disappointed). But I know (the front office) is working really hard. I’m in the middle of everything and I see it.”

Ideally, the Indians are looking for a hitter or two that could impact a sagging offense that is without key injured components Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo, with whoever they acquire under a favorable contract that allows the club to control their future rights.

The Indians will most likely be forced to part with one or two of their prized prospects in a trade and don’t want to be hamstrung by a player that isn’t in their plans going forward.

“I’m not here to make the playoffs once and that’s it,” Acta said. “We’re trying to build something that’s going to get (fans) excited for years to come, like we did this year. We’re just looking for the right deal.”

Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and Houston outfielder Hunter Pence are the biggest names among the players that appear to fit Cleveland’s offensive needs. The Indians have reportedly shown interest in outfielders Ryan Ludwick (San Diego), B.J. Upton (Tampa Bay) and Josh Willingham (Oakland) as well.

“I like what we have,” said Indians pitcher Justin Masterson. “But if we go make a move or two and bring someone in, you’re not against it. It could be a little spark that continues to push us.”

Better Brantley

Though he went 0-for-4 Sunday, it’s been a good month for outfielder Michael Brantley, who has his average up to a respectable .278.

Brantley is hitting .316 (25-for-59) with a home run and 10 RBIs in 19 July games. He’s batting .373 (22-for-59) with multihit efforts in eight of his last 13 games.

Next up

The Indians continue the homestand with a three-game series against the Angels that begins tonight at 7:05.

Fausto Carmona (5-10, 5.63 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Dan Haren (10-6, 3.10), while Josh Tomlin (11-4, 4.12) starts for Cleveland on Tuesday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP Jered Weaver (13-4, 1.81).

David Huff (1-0, 0.00) goes for the Indians in the series finale Wednesday (12:05), while Los Angeles counters with RHP Ervin Santana (5-8, 3.69).

The Indians are just 2-4 against the Angels in 2011.

Minor details

Reliever Nick Hagadone has put together a solid season thus far, entering Sunday with a combined 2.75 ERA for Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron in 33 games. Hagadone, acquired in the Victor Martinez trade with Boston in 2009, had struck out 55 batters over 52 1/3 innings through Saturday, and had posted a 0.57 ERA in 15 2/3 innings for the Clippers since June 23. … Akron outfielder Ben Copeland, a free-agent acquisition in June from the Giants, went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs in a 7-1 win over Erie on Saturday. Copeland, 27, entered Sunday batting .326 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 24 games for the Aeros.

Roundin’ third

The Indians are 15-16 against the Central Division. … Legendary Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel started at second base for the White Sox, going 1-for-3 with a run in Chicago’s decisive sixth inning and handling plenty of action in the field (seven assists). He received a loud ovation from the crowd prior to his first at-bat in the third. … Lifehouse performed a postgame concert in front of around 5,000 fans after the event and Indians game were postponed Saturday night. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.