Despite going down 0-1 in the top of the second inning Wednesday, the Red Sox swept the Athletics for a second straight time at Fenway, exploding yet again for another night of big run production.
Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run in the 4th inning. Jackie Bradley went 3-for-5 with two home runs. It was Bradley’s second career game with two round-trippers (also August 15, 2015 against the Mariners).
In all, Bradley, shown right in an after game Gatorade shower, collected another six RBI, five of them coming with two outs.
History Made
In over 100 seasons of history, the Red Sox have never scored 13 or more runs in three straight games as they’ve done this week, beating Oakland 14-7, 13,5, and 13-3. The three consecutive games with 12 or more runs at Fenway matched a Sox record set June 28-30, 1946.
It has been more than 17 years since any MLB team has put together three games of 13 or more runs per game. That was the Indians over the White Sox, May 17-19, 1999. Wednesday’s game was just the seventh instance of such games in Major League history since 1913. In that time no team has ever scored 13 or more runs in four straight games.
With 16 hits on Tuesday the Sox set a season-high for hits in a nine inning game. On Wednesday they did that one better, setting a new season high for 17 hits. Boston now has 10 games this season with 13 or more hits, the most in baseball.
Rick Porcello went 6.2 IP allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. It was Porcello’s 15th straight start to last at least 6.0 IP since returning from the disabled list last August 26. It’s the longest active streak in baseball. The last Sox starter with such streak was John Lackey, June 15 to September 2, 2014 (also 15 starts).