Cheng Tsung-che extends multi-hit streak - Taipei Times

The Boston Red Sox Cheng Tsung-che of Taiwan on Friday extended his multi-hit streak to three games as they defeated the New York Mets 6-2 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Starting at shortstop and batting ninth, Cheng went two for four with two singles and two strikeouts, raising his batting average to .308.

After striking out in the second inning, Cheng lined a single to right field in the fourth with Connor Wong on second base and Boston leading 2-1.

Photo: AP

Wong was initially ruled safe at home, which would have given Cheng an RBI, but the call was overturned following a video review.

Leading off the seventh, Cheng pushed a bunt into the air that bounced beyond the pitcher's mound. With the shortstop positioned too deep to make a play, Cheng reached first for an infield single.

He later scored on Anthony Seigler's two-run homer, extending Boston's lead to 4-1. Cheng struck out in his final plate appearance in the eighth.

The streak has come despite Cheng's irregular playing time. He recorded two hits against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday and another two-hit game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, but did not play on Thursday before returning to the lineup on Friday.

Wilyer Abreu added a two-run homer, his 11th of the season, in the ninth to cap the scoring for Boston. The Mets scored once in the bottom half to make it 6-2.

Abreu led the Red Sox with three hits, while four Boston players recorded multi-hit games.

Red Sox starter Sonny Gray earned his 11th win of the season after allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings while striking out six.

His ERA fell to 2.54, and his 11 wins are tied for second most in the majors with Cincinnati's Chase Burns, one behind MLB leader Aaron Ashby's 12.

Mets starter Sean McLean took his sixth loss after allowing two unearned runs over six innings.

With the win, Boston improved to 44-48 and moved provisionally into third place in the American League East.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is to have his left knee drained today to relieve continued irritation, with the procedure forcing him to miss the All-Star Game in Philadelphia next week.

Ohtani is to have fluid removed from his left knee following a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he is to start at designated hitter. They lost the first of the series 9-3 on Friday.

Ohtani had been scheduled to pitch, but instead led off with a home run to left center after the Dodgers decided to make it a bullpen game to avoid further aggravating the ongoing discomfort in his left knee.

"The goal is to be able to throw according to regular schedule," Ohtani said through an interpreter after the loss. "Although I could have started today, it would have still been pushing the envelope a little bit, but the intention, my every intention, is to use the off days to make sure that I'm in a good place to be able to be in the rotation."

Ohtani's absence will be a blow for baseball's midsummer showcase at Citizens Bank Park. The Japanese star — who turned 32 earlier this week — is among the game's most popular players and led MLB in jersey sales last year.

St Louis Cardinals designated hitter Ivan Herrera was named as a replacement to the National League All-Star team after Jimmy Crooks hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning to lift the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over visiting Atlanta Braves.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Elsewhere on Friday, it was:

‧ Giants 3, Rockies 4

‧ Marlins 2, Guardians 3

‧ Nationals 3, Yankees 5

‧ Orioles 5, Royals 3

‧ Padres 3, Blue Jays 5

‧ Rangers 7, Astros 3

‧ Rays 7, Mariners 2

‧ Reds 4, Cubs 0

‧ Tigers 10, Phillies 2

‧ Twins 3, Angels 4

‧ White Sox 14, Athletics 1