San Diego @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2013 ) San Diego 1, Boston 4
The Boston Red Sox’s recent dominance over National League West foes has put them in a comfortable spot atop the American League East. The Red Sox, who will continue their nine-game homestand against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, collected their sixth win in seven tries with Tuesday’s victory over the Padres and enjoy a 3 1/2-game division lead. In addition to being a season-high 17 games over .500, Boston (51-34) is 3-0 against the NL West after taking two from the Colorado Rockies last week.
The Padres continued to struggle offensively in the series opener and have accounted for a total of four runs during their four-game losing streak. San Diego is 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and batting .168 overall during the slide. One of Tuesday’s bright spots was former Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco, who went 1-for-3 with two steals in his first game against his former team and is a career .318 hitter at Fenway Park.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, New England Sports Network (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Edinson Volquez (6-6, 5.50 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (8-4, 4.61)
Volquez collected his third win over his last four decisions after yielding two runs and seven hits over six frames in Friday’s 9-2 victory over the Miami Marlins – the Padres’ last win. The right-hander, who will celebrate his 30th birthday Wednesday, leads the Padres with 79 strikeouts and is tied for second on the team with six wins. Volquez hasn’t faced Boston since his breakout 2008 campaign, when he struck out nine over seven innings in a no-decision as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
Lester has seen his ERA rise steadily in each of his last eight turns, but was good enough to win his second straight start Thursday in a 7-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The two-time All-Star began the season with a 6-0 record and 2.72 ERA through May 15, but is 2-4 with a 6.99 ERA since and allowing hitters to bat .316 against him during that span. Lester will make his first-ever start against San Diego, looking to improve his 3-0 mark and 3.24 ERA at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 18 games against NL opponents.
2. San Diego, which is 2-8 since June 22, has scored two runs or fewer in seven of its last 10 games.
3. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, who drew three walks in a game for the ninth time in his career Tuesday, reached base safely in 43 of 45 home games.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Padres 2