Offense need not be a one-size-fits-all proposition. While Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was correct in his December proclamation that homers are “a foolproof way to put runs on the board,” last year’s Brewers finished third in the big leagues in runs despite ranking 22nd in longballs.

But to this point in 2026, with a lineup that lacks an established, elite slugger as a middle-of-the-order anchor, the Sox have yet to identify a consistent – let alone foolproof – form of offense. On Saturday, the team scored just twice (both times on run-producing outs), leaving the door open for the Padres to claim a scrappy 3-2 victory at Fenway Park by breaking a ninth-inning tie with a run against Sox closer Aroldis Chapman.

With the loss, the Sox dropped to 2-6, tied for the worst record in the big leagues at this early stage. The foremost culprit? An offense averaging exactly three runs per game, tied for the worst output in baseball.

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“The strikeout rate is up, the walk rate is down, and we’re not hitting the ball out of the ballpark,” said manager Alex Cora. “If you’re not finding a way to get on base via the walk, then you have to slug. Right now, we’re not doing that.”

Saturday’s conditions – raw and windy, with a 43-degree gametime temperature that sank steadily – challenged the command of Sox starter Connelly Early. He issued a career-high four walks, his pitch count soaring to 88 in four innings of two-run ball.

“I struggled getting the grip on the ball a little bit, but I’ve got to do a better job with figuring out how to keep my hand warm and go out there and be able to execute from pitch one,” said Early. “It’s a tough one, bringing the bullpen out that early.”

Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early struggled to get a handle on the chilly conditions.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

The Padres capitalized on a leadoff walk by Freddy Fermin in the second inning, with their catcher eventually coming around to score. Then after the Sox tied it with a Marcelo Mayer sac fly in the bottom of the second, Miguel Andujar’s one-out double on the 10th pitch of his at-bat in the top of the third set up another run-scoring rally, with Fermin doubling in his teammate with two outs.

While Early suffered a quick knock-out, Padres counterpart Randy Vásquez delivered six solid frames, aided by a free-swinging Sox lineup that walked just once. The Sox swung at 15 of his 39 pitches (38 percent) that were out of the zone, a rough showing for an offense that entered the day with the fourth-highest chase rate (34 percent) in MLB.

“We’ve got to swing less, to be honest with you, get [pitches] in the zone, not chase,” said Cora. “Just make sure when you’re ahead, you get your pitch to hit, and if it’s not there, take a walk.”

Despite the lineup’s struggles, sharp work by the Sox bullpen gave the team a chance, and in the eighth inning, the offense finally capitalized.

Down, 2-1, Ceddanne Rafaela and Roman Anthony kickstarted the inning against lefty Adrian Morejon with back-to-back singles. After Trevor Story (0-for-4) struck out, Cora had Andruw Monasterio pinch-hit for Jarren Duran with runners on the corners and one out. Monasterio’s at-bat was an exercise in survival, with four two-strike foul balls.

Red Sox shortstop Andruw Monasterio drove in the tying run, 2-2, in the eighth inning with his pinch-hit single.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Finally, on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Monasterio dribbled a comebacker for a potential 1-4-3 inning-ending double play. But the baseball gods smiled upon the plucky plate appearance, as Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth fumbled the transfer after receiving Morejon’s perfect throw. Monasterio crossed first safely, and the Sox scored the tying run.

“If you put the ball in play, good things can happen,” Cora said of the at-bat.

The Padres came to the same realization against Chapman in the ninth. After the Sox closer recorded two quick outs, Fernando Tatis Jr. — who’d struck out in his first four plate appearances — drilled a 2-2 fastball over Rafaela’s head in center for a double. Ramón Laureano followed by reaching for a splitter that stayed up, flicking an RBI single to left-center and putting the Padres ahead, 3-2.

Padres closer Mason Miller played the role of ninth-inning Zeus, summoning bolts — triple-digit heaters and mid-90s changeups — to strike out the side on 11 pitches, leaving the Sox to puzzle over how to produce more runs.

“We’ve got to find a way to string things together as an offense. Easier said than done,” said Story. “We’re confident things will turn because of the work [being done] and the caliber of players we have.”

Marcelo Mayer heads back to the dugout after striking out swinging against Padres closer Mason Miller to end the game.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.