Red Sox-Padres series emphasized how badly Boston needs these pitchers to succeed

Boston Red Sox v San Diego Padres | Orlando Ramirez/GettyImagesThe Boston Red Sox had won four straight series when they arrived in San Diego from August 8-10, when the Padres killed their momentum.

Walker Buehler started Boston's first game on the West Coast and posted his best outing of the year. Buehler has been the Red Sox's least consistent starter all season, but his scoreless, six-inning outing put the Sox in the best possible position to win the series.

But Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello didn't match up, and San Diego took the final two games from Boston. The Red Sox have come to expect elite outings from the middle of their rotation — the two righties posted a combined 2.25 ERA in…