TORONTO -- Xander Bogaerts has added power to his mix this season while maintaining the same pure stroke he had throughout last season. The Red Sox's shortstop ran his hitting streak to 21 games on Saturday afternoon by launching a homer to lead off the fourth inning.
In a 10-9 loss to the Blue Jays, Bogaerts was 3-for-5 and scored three times as he raised his American League-leading batting average to .351.
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After the game, Dustin Pedroia was asked what he thought of how his double-play partner had been swinging the bat of late.
"The last eight weeks? Come on, plug in, man. Where you been?" said Pedroia. "He's hitting .360. He's been good."
The homer was No. 6 on the season for Bogaerts, just one fewer than he hit last season.
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"Yeah, he's in such a good place," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "He's swinging the bat extremely well."
The hitting streak for Bogaerts is the longest of his career, and the second-best in the Major Leagues this season. Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. had the top streak this season, a 29-game run that ended on Thursday at Fenway Park.
The home run by Bogaerts came on an 0-2 cutter by Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman.
During the streak, Bogaerts is hitting .402 (37-for-92) with six doubles, five homers, 14 RBIs and a 1.069 OPS.