:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15885791/20130619_jel_ax5_085.0.jpg)
After tying a season high five-game losing streak last night, the Padres have dropped back down to fourth place in the NL West, though they are still just 3 1/2 games out of first place. Today they will give the ball to Eric Stults to try to get them a desperately-needed win. Stults has been one of the strongest pitchers for San Diego this season, but struggled in his latest start. He surrendered six runs (five earned) on seven hits in his shortest outing (3 2/3 innings) of the season. Stults has pitched in four interleague games in his career, but today will be his first time ever going against the Red Sox.
Unfortunately for Stults, Boston has been unstoppable, especially at Fenway Park. They have won seven of their last eight games and their 52-34 overall record leads the American League while their 29-16 home record leads all the majors.
The Padres, on the other hand, have dropped five consecutive games. During that stretch, they've hit just .172 and have been outscored 23-5 by the Marlins and Red Sox. Will Venable could return to the lineup today after sitting out the first two games of the series with a sore hamstring sustained when he ran the bases against Miami on Saturday. Tonight the Padres will try to avoid a six-game losing streak, which would be their longest since May 2012.
In order to do so, they'll have to find a way to put some runs together against Boston rookie Allen Webster. The right-hander was called up on June 22nd for the third time this year. He is still looking for his first major league win after getting the no-decision his last time out and going 0-2 overall in his five career starts.