Padres at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox lead the league in runs scored but have taken care of the San Diego Padres with strong starting pitching. The Red Sox go for the three-game sweep when they host the Padres on Thursday afternoon. The Boston pitching staff has surrendered a total of two runs in the first two games of the series, and the offense has gotten just enough production to grab a pair of wins.
The Red Sox have won seven of their last eight games and own the best record in the American League at 52-34. Jonny Gomes delivered a walk-off home run in Wednesday’s 2-1 triumph but John Lackey and Jon Lester have been the stars of the series. The Padres moved into contention in the National League West a few weeks ago, but have lost five straight and 11 of their last 15 games.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, New England Sports Network (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Stults (6-6, 3.51 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Allen Webster (0-2, 9.50)
Stults was knocked around for five earned runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings at Miami on Saturday to snap a string of six straight quality starts. The veteran left-hander has never faced the Red Sox but fared well in his last turn against an AL team, holding the Seattle Mariners to one run on three hits while striking out 12 in eight innings May 29. Stults has suffered five of his six losses on the road in 2013.
Webster was in line for his first major-league win Friday against Toronto before the bullpen let him down. The 23-year-old did not allow a home run against the Blue Jays for the first time in four major-league starts and yielded four runs on six hits in six innings. Webster is still occupying the rotation spot of Clay Buchholz (neck), who has been throwing off flat ground.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 13 straight games.
2. San Diego OF Will Venable (hamstring) missed the last three games, but expects to play Thursday.
3. Boston SS Stephen Drew (hamstring) missed the last four games, but still hopes to avoid the disabled list.