SAN DIEGO (AP) — Edwin Jackson processed the message, then put it into effect.
Jackson struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings to outpitch former Padres ace Drew Pomeranz, leading San Diego over the Boston Red Sox 2-1 Monday.
Jackson (4-5) gave up four hits and ended his three-start losing streak.
“We kind of talked in between starts and we felt he just wasn’t finishing up front with a ton of conviction,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “From the first pitch today you can see him finishing aggressively.”
That made sense to Jackson.
“I had to come out today and force the issue against a great-hitting team,” he said. “They can put a lot of points on the board. You just have to have belief in what you do.”
Adam Rosales hit a two-run homer off Pomeranz.
“It helped seeing him as a teammate,” Rosales said. “I learned you have to lay off the curve and the cutter.”
Said Pomeranz: “I was having trouble locating my pitches and he took advantage of one.”
Pomeranz (2-4 for Boston) was an All-Star for the Padres this season and 8-7 in the NL before being traded to the Red Sox in mid-July.
“I think Drew gave us what we kind of anticipated, (105) pitches and six quality innings of work,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
Brandon Maurer worked the ninth for his eighth save in 13 chances. He gave up a one-out single to Hanley Ramirez, then struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. and got pinch hitter David Ortiz on a flyball.
Rosales hit his career-high ninth homer of the season in the fourth, and the San Diego pitchers made it stand up.
“One pitch, it’s a different game,” Rosales said. “But I didn’t think it was going out.”
Pomeranz gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five with a walk.
Chris Young’s pinch-hit homer off reliever Brad Hand to open the eighth cut the Padres’ lead to 2-1.
Aaron Hill followed with a pinch-hit double but was stranded at third when Hand struck out Brock Holt and Xander Bogaerts.
“We got a couple of opportunities with really good hitters at the plate,” Farrell said. “But unfortunately we didn’t execute to tie the game up.”
Hanley Ramirez had three hits for Boston.
Boston’s best chance against Jackson came in the seventh. But with two on and none out, he got Bradley to ground into a double play and fanned Yoan Moncada on a full-count offspeed pitch.
“(Catcher) Derek (Norris) and myself were able to get in a great groove,” Jackson said. “Today was one of those games.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Koji Uehara (strained pectoral muscle) was activated off the disabled list. He will be available on Tuesday, Farrell said.
Padres: CF Jon Jay (right forearm) will be added to the roster on Tuesday after playing in three minor league games. Jay missed 66 games.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Clay Buchholz (5-10, 5.20) gets the nod for the middle game of the three-game series. In his last three starts, he is 1-0 and has allowed just one run in two of them.
Padres: RHP Paul Clemens (2-4, 4.93) has set a career high with nine starts but his last one was rocky when he lasted by three innings, charged with two runs and four hits.
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