#ASGWorthy: Red-hot Bogaerts pushes hit streak to 23

BALTIMORE — Xander Bogaerts extended his career-long hitting streak to 23 games with an RBI double to left in the third inning of the Red Sox’s series-opening 7-2 win over the Orioles on Monday afternoon at Camden Yards.

Bogaerts, who leads all American League shortstops with 2.6 Wins Above Replacement, finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, raising his league-leading batting average to .354. His 75 hits lead the Majors and his 42 runs are bested only by teammate Mookie Betts (46). Combined with 18 doubles and a .405 on-base percentage — both of which also rank among the league leaders — Bogaerts continues to make a strong case for a start in the All-Star Game.

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Bogaerts knocked in Boston’s first two runs of the game before his teammates joined the party, with Jackie Bradley Jr., David Ortiz and Marco Hernandez all homering after Baltimore tied the game in the ffifth. After Betts and Dustin Pedroia reached on well-placed singles with one out in the third, Bogaerts ripped a pitch …

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