Bradley faring better in second big league stint

NEW YORK -- One of the main reasons the Red Sox were comfortable in having Jackie Bradley Jr. start the season in the Majors is that they were confident he wouldn't be rattled if he struggled. That thought has proven to be exactly right.

Following an 0-for-20 drought, Bradley was sent back to the Minors on April 18, and he excelled in his return to Pawtucket, batting .354 with two homers and nine RBIs in 20 games.

The Red Sox called him back to the Majors on Wednesday, and he has looked far more comfortable in this go-around.

In Saturday night's game against the Yankees, Bradley belted two doubles as part of a three-hit night.

With Jacoby Ellsbury again out of the lineup, Bradley was back in center field on Sunday night.

"I feel like I was just not really in sync [earlier in the year]," Bradley said. "You try to stay with your same approach, seeing pitches. That's just who I am. I'm going to see pitches, try to make the pitcher work. That way, I can learn them. It was my first turn going around. So I'm just trying to get a feel for pitchers, start learning them, stuff like that, and the best way to do that is to see pitches."