San Diego @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2007 ) Boston 4, San Diego 2
THE STORY: Adrian Gonzalez gets his first look at his former team Monday when his Boston Red Sox welcome the San Diego Padres to Fenway Park. Gonzalez and the Red Sox are coasting after a difficult start to the season, while the Padres are mired in a five-game losing streak that has dropped them to the bottom of the National League West standings.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Ch4 (San Diego), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 4.26 ERA) vs. LH Andrew Miller (2010: 1-5, 8.54 ERA)
LeBlanc will make his third start of the season after taking over the rotation spot belonging to Aaron Harang, who is on the disabled list with a fractured right foot. LeBlanc was a victim of the pitch count last time out, allowing three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings while throwing 94 pitches. He has never faced the Red Sox in his career.
Miller makes his Beantown debut in place of righthander Clay Buchholz, who was placed on the disabled list with a back strain. The 6-foot-7 lefty was added by the Red Sox as some insurance in the offseason and has been excellent in the minors this season, going 6-3 with a 2.47 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket.
ABOUT THE PADRES (30-43): The deal that sent Gonzalez to the Red Sox in the offseason was expected to be beneficial to the Padres in the long run. Clearly, it isn't helping them all that much right now. San Diego was swept out of Minnesota over the weekend, dropping 13 games below .500 for the first time all season. First baseman Anthony Rizzo, the centerpiece of the trade with Boston, will likely play in at least two of the three games in the series. The 21-year-old is struggling since being recalled nearly two weeks ago, hitting just .148 with a solo homer in 10 games.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (43-28): The hope for Boston coming into the 2011 season was that Gonzalez would excel in Fenway Park's friendly confines after spending five seasons at the pitcher-friendly Petco Park. The result has been better than even the most optimistic Red Sox fan could have expected. Gonzalez is tearing the cover off the ball for the American League East leaders, leading the majors in batting average (.348), doubles (24) and RBIs (64) while ranking fourth in slugging percentage (.607). His dominance has lifted Boston to an unbelievable 41-18 stretch since opening the season 2-10.
FINAL PITCH: The teams haven't met since 2007, when the Red Sox won two of three in San Diego. Gonzalez went 1-for-12 with five strikeouts in the series.