BOSTON -- Before Friday’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Angels general manager Billy Eppler said he’s been encouraged by what he’s been seeing from his young pitching staff despite some bumps and bruises along the way.

Second-year right-hander Jaime Barria showed some flashes in his five innings of work against the Red Sox, but was ultimately done in by two homers in a 16-4 loss that stretched the Angels’ losing streak to a season-high eight games. The 23-year-old was charged with five runs on six hits to see his ERA climb to 6.62 in 12 appearances (seven starts) this year.

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"I felt good about my outing,” Barria said through an interpreter. “It was just those two pitches with runners on that hurt me. I was able to locate outside and, for the most part, I felt pretty good with my command."

Barria, who posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts as a rookie last year, hasn’t been able to replicate that success, as he’s been shuttled between Triple-A Salt Lake and the Majors this season. He'd been pitching better recently with a 3.95 ERA over his last three starts entering Friday’s outing but couldn’t keep it up against Boston.

Barria also couldn’t hold an early lead powered by a three-run homer from Albert Pujols in the first inning. He gave up a leadoff double to Mookie Betts in the first before allowing an RBI double to J.D. Martinez with one out.

He was hurt by extra-base hits again in the fourth, surrendering a leadoff double to Xander Bogaerts before Martinez connected on a game-tying blast to right. Martinez’s homer came on a 3-1 fastball from Barria over the heart of the plate.

Barria and the Angels lost the lead for good in the fifth, when he gave up a one-out single to Jackie Bradley Jr. and a go-ahead, two-run shot to Betts. Barria again fell behind in the count, as Betts’ homer came on a 3-2 slider on the inside part of the plate.

“Home runs have killed us, especially in this stretch,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “We can’t walk guys. It’s pretty simple. It’s not just Barria. It’s our entire staff.”

Barria threw 99 pitches on the night, getting just four swings and misses with three coming on his slider and one on his fastball. He repeatedly went to his slider, throwing it 45 times. It's been part of a trend this year, as he's throwing his slider much more than last year, but to mixed results.

"It was a little faster than usual, leaving it flat,” Barria said. “That's what the problem was."

The floodgates opened after Barria’s departure, as relievers Justin Anderson, Adalberto Mejía and Trevor Cahill combined to allow 11 runs (seven earned) over the final three innings. It was a showing that had Ausmus not pleased after the game.

“It’s an embarrassing loss, quite frankly,” Ausmus said. “We didn’t pitch. We didn’t hit, other than Albert’s homer in the first. We really haven’t done much of either the past week. That’s what happens when you have losing streaks, when you’re not hitting or pitching. It’s not lack of effort. Guys care. They are doing their work every day. They are just not performing. Anyone who puts a uniform on is to blame, including the coaching staff and myself.”

It’s been a tough stretch for the Angels, who have lost 12 of 14 and have been outscored by a wide margin during their losing streak. Over the last eight games, the Angels have allowed 63 runs and scored 20.

"It's really hard,” Barria said. “Every guy in here wants to win. But we're still out there competing and not giving up."