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Boston Red Sox roll; Jackie Bradley extends hitting streak to 29

By Gethin Coolbaugh, The Sports Xchange
Boston Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr. (Twitter/Jackie Bradley Jr.)
Boston Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr. (Twitter/Jackie Bradley Jr.)

BOSTON -- On a night when Boston celebrated one of its most memorable teams, Travis Shaw and the Red Sox continued to create memories of their own.

Members of the franchise's 1986 American League championship team -- including Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans and Bill Buckner -- gathered around the mound for a pregame ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of their magical World Series run.

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Over the next few hours, this year's Red Sox looked like they're capable of similar success.

"We're still trying to carve out our own legacy," said Shaw, who drove in three runs as Boston roughed up the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Wednesday at Fenway Park. "It's still early in the season, and it's May, but we're off on the right foot and we want to continue to ride this wave as long as we can."

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What that iconic team couldn't accomplish three decades ago -- an infamous grounder went through Buckner's legs and the New York Mets won the title in seven games -- Shaw said this year's group can.

"World Series champion -- I think that's what everybody's goal is in here," Shaw said. "There's no reason not to think that at this point."

Boston (29-17) pounded out 13 hits in its sixth double-digit run output over the last 12 contests at Fenway. The Red Sox have won 13 of their last 15 at home.

"I know it's still early, a long way to go, but I feel like this team can hurt you in a lot of different ways," Shaw said.

Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts extended their respective hitting streaks, David Ortiz and Blake Swihart each had a pair of RBIs -- with Swihart slapping two triples -- and Mookie Betts drove in one more in Boston's 13-hit attack.

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.

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He also had an RBI and is five games shy of tying Dom DiMaggio's franchise-record 34-game stretch in 1949. DiMaggio's brother Joe holds the major league record of 56 games set in 1941.

Bogaerts stretched his hit streak to a career-best 18 games with a solo homer.

Steven Wright (4-4) left to a standing ovation, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven in seven innings for the Red Sox.

As efficiently as Wright pitched, he struggled with command -- throwing three wild pitches.

"Hot night, still air -- ball's going to have a lot of violence to it," Boston manager John Farrell said of Wright's knuckleball. "But when he needed to he was able to get back in the strike zone."

Mark Reynolds had a pair of RBIs and Carlos Gonzalez had three hits and scored two runs in a 10-hit effort for Colorado (21-24), which has dropped six of its last seven.

Chad Bettis (4-3) was chased after 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two for the Rockies.

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"Their offense got going and it was tough to stop," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.

Wright's command issues and Ryan Hanigan's struggles behind the plate proved costly early for Boston.

The knuckleballer's wild pitch allowed Gonzalez to reach third after advancing to second on Hanigan's passed ball. Reynolds grounded out to plate Gonzalez.

Wright's second wild pitch two innings later allowed Gonzalez to score again.

Bogaerts' blast put the Red Sox on the board and Shaw singled to drive in another run in the fourth. Swihart tacked on two more in the frame with his triple.

Bradley's groundout and Shaw's two-run double in the fifth stretched Boston's lead to 7-2.

Reynolds' groundout in the eighth plated Colorado's third and final run, but Boston answered with three runs in the eighth on Betts' RBI single and Ortiz's two-run double.

Hanigan, charged with four passed balls, left in the fourth with an undisclosed illness.

Dustin Pedroia also departed in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness, but the team said the move was precautionary.

Xander Bogaerts had his fingernail bent back in the eighth and came out of the game an inning later, but Farrell expects him to be available for Thursday's series finale.

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NOTES: Colorado LHP Boone Logan (left shoulder inflammation) was placed on the disabled list. RHP Jason Motte was activated from the DL. ... Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa, who started Tuesday, was moved to the bullpen. LHP Chris Rusin replaced him. ... Red Sox 1B Hanley Ramirez started Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game because of a right toe contusion. ... Boston manager John Farrell isn't considering resting OF Jackie Bradley Jr. or SS Xander Bogaerts. "I'm sure as hell not going to take them out of the lineup," Farrell said. ... Rockies RHP Jon Gray (1-2, 6.75 ERA) opposes Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (2-4, 5.92 ERA) on Thursday.

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