Padres 5, Red Sox 4
Rookie Anthony Rizzo drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres ended a season-high six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in front of the largest post-World War II crowd in Fenway Park history.
The announced attendance was 38,422, besting the previous post-World War II mark of 38,347 set in May 2009. Those on hand didn’t get the chance to see major league ERA leader Josh Beckett (illness) try to follow up on his one-hitter in Tampa Bay on June 15.
Instead, they saw spot starter Alfredo Aceves issue five straight walks in the second inning, which helped the Padres pick up their first interleague win in eight tries this season. Boston, meanwhile, lost for only the third time in its last 17 games.
Heath Bell got David Ortiz to hit into a double play and struck out J.D. Drew in the ninth for his 19th save in 20 chances.
San Diego loaded the bases against Dan Wheeler (0-1) in the seventh and Rizzo, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Gonzalez to Boston during the off-season, drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout off Daniel Bard.
Chad Qualls (4-3) picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.