BOSTON — The Red Sox on Wednesday won their fourth consecutive game for the first time this season.
The other teams to reel off four-game winning streaks this year? Well, all of them.
That’s right: Before their 6-3 win over the Miami Marlins, the Red Sox were the only team in Major League Baseball that had yet to reel off four victories in a row. But if Boston continues on its current pace, this quartet of W’s will not be its last.
The Red Sox carry a tremendous amount of momentum into this weekend’s massively important three-game series with the first-place New York Yankees, whom they trail by just five games in the American League East standings.
But first, let’s get caught up on some leftover notes from Wednesday night’s action.
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— Mike Napoli was left out of the starting lineup for a third consecutive game as he continues to work on his swing. Red Sox manager John Farrell said the ideal situation would be for the first baseman to see game action this weekend against the Yankees, though that is not guaranteed.
“We’d like to (have him play before the All-Star break),” Farrell said before the game. “I think it’s important to note that we’re not turning from Mike. Mike has been big in some stretches of time here, and some prolonged stretches. Right now, he’s on the other side of that, and he’s working and doing what he can to get through it. Ultimately, that will need the opportunity to see that work play out, and that will be upcoming. But right now, the focus is day to day of, ‘What is tonight’s best chance for us to score runs and be on the right side of the scoreboard?’ ”
— Speaking of this weekend, second baseman Dustin Pedroia is scheduled to come off the disabled list Friday and thus would be eligible to play in Game 1 of the New York series. Farrell, however, said he still is uncertain of when Pedroia will make his return to the lineup.
“He’s going to be on the field when he’s first ready without any undue risk,” Farrell said. “… I guess the best way to describe it is, he’s going to be on the field as soon as he’s ready.”
Farrell also did not say whether David Ortiz, who started at first Wednesday for the second time in three games, would see additional action at the position before the break.
“The focus with David at first is today only,” the manager said. “The approach with that is more day to day and his availability.”
Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored Wednesday night.
— Daniel Nava, who’s been on the DL since May 26 with a left thumb sprain, will see some time at first base during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket, per Farrell.
“He will, but for now it’s in right field,” Farrell said. “He’s got (Wednesday) and (Thursday), nine innings, both in right field. But going forward, I’m sure we’ll get some repetition (at first).”
— The push to get Xander Bogaets voted into the All-Star Game has extended to the Fenway Park dirt.
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Bogaerts finished the game 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
