BOSTON -- Different spot, same result.
Batting in the No. 2 hole for the first time all season, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a first-inning single in the Red Sox's 6-5 extra-innings win against the Astros on Saturday afternoon to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.
"I didn't try to treat it any different," Bradley said. "It is the same no matter where I hit. I just want to get as many hits as possible to help the team win."
The streak is the longest in Major League Baseball this year, and the longest by a Red Sox player since David Ortiz hit in 27 consecutive games spanning the 2012-13 seasons.
Bradley is hitting .416 (32-for-77) during the streak with six doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs.
Bradley's new spot in Saturday's lineup came because Dustin Pedroia got a routine day off. Pedroia later pinch-hit in the eighth inning.
In a lineup that is currently putting up staggering offensive numbers, Bradley said watching Ortiz, who went 3-for-5 and hit a walk-off double, has been a big help.
"I just keep watching him. I just learn so much from seeing his approach," Bradley said. "He's one of those leaders that is going to keep everything exciting and push us and motivate us to be better and make sure we win."