San Diego @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 21, 2011 ) San Diego 5, Boston 4

THE STORY: Boston’s scorching hot offense finally stopped producing clutch hits in Tuesday’s setback to San Diego. Adrian Gonzalez and the rest of the Red Sox will try to get back on track and avoid losing two straight for the first time in nearly a month Wednesday in the series finale against the visiting Padres. The Red Sox, who had averaged eight runs while winning 14 of the previous 16 games, went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position in a 5-4 loss Tuesday as San Diego ended a season-high six-game losing streak.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TV 4 (San Diego), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (5-5, 7.02 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (2-9, 4.35). Lackey has won three straight starts since returning from a 3½ week stint on the disabled list, though he hasn’t been extremely sharp. The righthander has a 5.04 ERA in that span. Still, that number is leaps and bounds better than the 14.34 ERA he posted in his last two starts prior to being sidelined with a strained elbow. Lackey allowed four runs and eight hits in eight innings against Milwaukee on Friday. He retired the last 14 hitters after yielding four runs in the first three innings. Lackey has never faced the Padres. Perhaps no one has been victimized more by the Padres’ lack of offense more than Richard, who has lost a career-high five straight decisions despite a 3.79 ERA over that period. The lefthander’s last start was his worst by far during this stretch, though. He allowed six runs - five earned - and 10 hits in five-plus innings of a 6-5 loss to Minnesota on Friday. Richard’s only appearance against Boston came in relief in 2008.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (44-29): The Red Sox, owners of the best record in the American League, haven’t lost two straight since a four-game skid from May 29-June 1. In fact, Boston is 13-4 in June, which is second to only Minnesota (15-3). The main reason for its success is an offense that ranks first in the majors in batting average (.278) and runs (399). Prior to Tuesday’s loss, the Red Sox had scored at least 10 runs in five of their previous nine games. Adrian Gonzalez upped his major league-leading RBI total to 68 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Dustin Pedroia has driven in 23 runs in his last 24 games.

ABOUT THE PADRES (31-44): San Diego’s offense is the polar opposite. The Padres are second-to-last in the majors in runs (252) and batting average (.233). Chase Headley seems to be one of the few Padres who is hitting consistently. Headley had four hits in Monday’s opener and one Tuesday. He is batting .515 (17-for-33) over his last eight games. San Diego hopes that prized prospect Anthony Rizzo, the centerpiece in the deal that sent Gonzalez to Boston, is starting to heat up as well. Rizzo is hitting .167 since being called up on June 9, but he has two long doubles in this series and has swung the bat well. San Diego may be without second baseman Orlando Hudson, who got spiked by Jacoby Ellsbury while covering second base on a steal attempt. Hudson appeared to hurt his wrist, but stayed in the game.

FINAL PITCH: Tuesday’s announced paid attendance of 38,422 was the largest post-World War II crowd in Fenway Park history.