Boston @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2013 ) Philadelphia 3, Boston 1

After splitting a pair at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies will continue their fight in a new venue as the Phillies host the Red Sox on Wednesday. The interleague series is the first of the season in a National League Park for Boston, which has had its pitchers practicing their hitting for the last six weeks. The Red Sox had a four-game winning streak come to an end with Tuesday’s 3-1 setback.

Philadelphia dropped two of three to Boston at home in 2012 and is just 11-12 at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have leaned on their pitching to get them wins lately, including on Tuesday when Cliff Lee went eight strong innings. Philadelphia’s offense has scored more than three runs only once in its last six games and twice in the last 10. The Red Sox are much more potent offensively and have started to get production from Jacoby Ellsbury, who scored the lone run on Tuesday and is 6-for-14 with three doubles in the last three games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (3-4, 2.72 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (4-3, 3.29)

Lackey has not allowed an earned run in either of his last two starts and was at his best against the Cleveland Indians on Friday, surrendering two hits and striking out eight in seven frames. The veteran right-hander has yielded two earned runs or fewer in five of his seven outings. Lackey missed the series last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery but owns a 2-2 record with a 3.12 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

Kendrick had not allowed more than two earned runs in seven straight starts from April 10-May 12 but has been lit up for nine runs and 16 hits in 11 innings over his last two turns - both losses. The 28-year-old walked four in each of those two starts after totaling 10 free passes in his first eight outings. Kendrick has made four appearances (two starts) against Boston and has been knocked around for 14 runs in 11 2/3 total innings while going 0-3.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lackey is a .105 career hitter in 38 at-bats with a pair of doubles.

2. Philadelphia OF Domonic Brown, who was named the NL Player of the Week on Monday, has homered in each of the first two games of the home-and-home set.

3. Boston optioned RHP Alex Wilson to the minors and is expected to recall OF Jackie Bradley Jr. before Wednesday’s game.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Phillies 5