A losing streak is a spotlight. It focuses attention on shortcomings that can be worked through, glossed over or excused in the good times.

The Yankees have had a first-base issue all season with Greg Bird’s struggles perhaps due to injury, his extended absence because of injury and Chris Carter’s inability to do enough of what he excels at (hitting homers) to overshadow what he does not (pretty much everything else).

As if on cue to demonstrate the point, Matt Holliday — making his eighth start at first this season — misplayed a second-inning pop-up that every cast member of “The Bad News Bears” would have caught.

But it was forgiven and/or forgotten because he also hit a tie-breaking homer in the fifth to help end a seven-game slide.

The 8-4 triumph over the Angels resembled much from the first 10 weeks of this Yankees season. Jordan Montgomery provided a strong start. Chad Green, whose role could expand out of the bullpen with Tyler Clippard struggling, delivered two key relief innings. The offense was again powerful and timely with every member of the starting lineup reaching safely and the bottom third of Didi Gregorius, Chase Headley and Austin Romine generating five hits, two walks and five RBIs.

The Yankees hopped back over the Red Sox into first place with the kind of showing that had helped them cope with their shortcomings, including the majors’ worst first-base production.

General manager Brian Cashman insisted he would “not be pressured into doing something” at first because the fans and media are currently desiring ABC — Anyone But Carter. He does not feel there is a better option readily available.

Bird had another cortisone shot in his ankle and the hope is — if all goes well — he could return in about two weeks, but Bird has yet to show he is a quick healer … or really much of a healer at all.

Tyler Austin has hit well in the minors, but his swing-and-miss rate at Triple-A is actually worse than Carter’s in the majors. That makes the Yankees concerned about how he would handle major league pitching. On Wednesday, playing first at Triple-A, Austin homered — and also struck out twice.

Holliday’s 16th career start at first came with Joe Girardi expressing concern that overplaying the 37-year-old there would risk his health and, thus, his bat, which is his most valuable asset as he showed again with the homer and a double that raised his OPS to .915.

Cashman expressed no interest in veteran stopgaps who could be landed, such as James Loney or Chris Parmelee. And the trade season for real replacements has yet to materialize, and it is not a market the Yankees want to leap into unless they know Bird is not coming back.

“Do I think right now we’re better served with Chris Carter [as the regular first baseman]? The answer to that is yes,” Cashman said. “At some point if something obviously presents itself then we’ll adjust and deal with that.”

I have wondered if Chase Headley — not long ago the most booed man at Yankee Stadium (now see Carter, Chris or Clippard, Tyler) — might play some first in tandem with Carter or Austin with the Yankees promoting Tyler Wade to play third in conjunction with Ronald Torreyes when Headley is at first?

Cashman said it is not a scenario discussed internally. Wade has limited reps at third. Plus, he would necessitate a 40-man roster spot at a time when those are precious to the Yankees.

So for now, Carter remains the primary first baseman. But the clock is ticking. After Carter committed a key error Tuesday and had another empty offensive night, Girardi — who normally will defend his players publicly even at obvious time for criticism — would only explain that Carter was playing because “that’s what we have.”

Then on Wednesday, Girardi cited “organizational decision” a few times to explain why Austin or someone else has not been summoned.

But you may recall Carter signed late in the offseason for only $3.5 million as a safety net for Bird and has mainly hit ninth. In other words, he was not a desired commodity in the industry nor viewed as a big cog for the Yankees.

It is easier to remember that when the Yanks are winning and Carter’s deficiencies are overcome by team-wide strengths. Also, it should be remembered that the Yankees are not kidding themselves, they only see Carter as the best of a bunch of bad options. Carter is the answer for now, but the Yankees know he is not the answer.