Jaime Barria, making his ninth major league start, gave up six runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks in four innings Monday night, a sour note for a starting staff that has generally acquitted itself well despite a baffling array of injuries. By the time Mike Scioscia went to his overworked and lately underachieving bullpen, the Angels were well on their way to a 7-4 loss at Angel Stadium, their seventh defeat in eight games.
The season is getting away from them, and fast. If it’s not over, it’s close. And any chance they have to make the summer months meaningful will hinge on reviving or fortifying their bullpen, which through Sunday had pitched the second-most innings in the major leagues, 264 2/3, behind only Tampa Bay.