Philadelphia @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2018 ) Philadelphia 5, San Diego 1

Finding offense away from home has been a bit of a chore recently for the Philadelphia Phillies, although a rare exception came in their latest victory. The Phillies attempt to claim their first road series in six tries Sunday, when they visit the San Diego Padres for the rubber match of their three-game set.

Philadelphia entered Saturday having scored a total of seven runs more than halfway through its six-game trek and was coming off consecutive shutout losses in which 11 of its 12 hits were singles. However, the Phillies got a pair of run-scoring extra-base hits in the first inning Saturday and received solo homers from Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez in support of yet another strong pitching effort by Aaron Nola in a 5-1 triumph. Philadelphia, which owns a one-game lead over Atlanta in the National League East despite a 27-33 road record, has struggled for a while offensively away from Citizens Bank Park - totaling 22 runs over its last 10 such contests. The NL-worst Padres lost for only the second time in six games but have been getting steady production from Austin Hedges, who has recorded three straight two-hit performances and is batting .391 during his six-game hitting streak.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (5-6, 3.70)

Arrieta remained unbeaten in seven starts after a no-decision Monday in Arizona, failing to notch his 10th win of the season when the bullpen squandered a two-run lead after he tossed eight scoreless innings. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner is 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA since the beginning of July and has yielded fewer than three runs six times over that span. Arrieta's worst start in that stretch came against San Diego on July 20, when he gave up five runs - four earned - over 3 1/3 frames in a no-decision.

Lucchesi tied his season high with nine strikeouts but failed to factor in the decision last Sunday in Chicago after giving up three runs - two earned - and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings against the Cubs. The 25-year-old rookie hasn't completed six frames since returning from a right hip strain in mid-June, but he has posted a 3.48 ERA over his last seven outings. Lucchesi owns a 3-4 record with a 4.21 ERA in 11 home outings as he makes his first career start against Philadelphia.

WALK-OFFS

1. With Saturday's triumph, the Phillies avoided losing five straight in San Diego for the first time since 1998.

2. Padres OF Hunter Renfroe has recorded multiple hits in five of his last six contests and is 13-for-36 with four homers and 12 RBIs over his last nine games.

3. Philadelphia (65-51) will match last season's win total with a victory on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Padres 2