The Boston Red Sox offense keeps bashing its way through opposing pitching staffs and the Colorado Rockies seem helpless to stop it. The Red Sox will try to wrap up a three-game sweep and win for the 14th time in their last 16 home games when they host the Rockies in the finale of a three-game interleague series on Thursday.
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Bradley singled in the fourth inning to extend his career-high and major league-leading streak to 29 games, tying him with Johnny Damon for the fourth-longest in Red Sox history. He flied out to center in the fifth.
Yet, the drama still was not over.
BOSTON – Jackie Bradley Jr.’s hitting streak was going to end eventually. If Bogaerts falls short as Bradley did it is a testament to how hard it is to hit a baseball safely day after day in the major leagues. Tommy Layne came into the game to finish off the inning.
And some wise acre would yell: “Call Joe DiMaggio for reaction!” Bradley has still been seeing the ball this season, showing off stints of power, and the ability to flare in base hits in every part of the field.
Edwin Encarnacion had a two-run single for the Blue Jays, who won for the fifth time in eight games and 10th time in their last 13 trips to NY.
The Rockies’ win ended a three-game losing streak by Colorado and it ended a four-game winning streak for the Red Sox. As pointed out by my colleague, Jess Thomas, the Sox centerfielder only extended his streak in his last at-bat in three of the 29 games.
You have heard of Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr., whose father played in the majors.
First off, how surprised are you that Bradley has been able to do this? His roll came to a violent end as he got shelled for six runs on three long balls.
Bogaerts has been among the best hitters in baseball this season, though his production has been overshadowed by the exploits of Bradley and retiring slugger David Ortiz.
Bettis, usually the Rockies’ bulldog-tough right-hander, started out looking as if he would tame a Red Sox offense that now has plated 274 runs, more than 50 runs better than any other AL team.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET with broadcasts on NESN, WEEI, and the MLB Network.
SATURDAY 1:07 p.m.
Jackie Bradley, Jr. was hitting.
Pinch-hitter Josh Harrison smacked a two-run double off the right-field wall in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie. It was Garneau’s first homer of the season, and he added a double in the ninth. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (right hamstring tightness) and SS Xander Bogarts (lacerated finger on right hand) were in the starting lineup Thursday.RF Mookie Betts (rest) did not start.
Christian Vazquez was in a 1-for-16 (.063) slump. He retired Bradley twice on changeups, a pitch he throws a mere 2.7 percent of the time, according to FanGraphs.
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Travis Shaw was 4-for-19 (.211) on the home stand. The pre-season picks vs. the defending champs. The a home stint against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.
