Homer extends Cuddyer's hitting streak to 23

BOSTON -- The shipment of new bats arrived just in time. Michael Cuddyer was getting ready to pull a stick off the nearest tree and take a few swings.

He had broken 10 bats during a nine-game road trip, was all out of his 34-inch, 32 1/2-ounce bats that he's used all season and was instead swinging 31-ounce bats. It may not sound like much of a difference, but imagine adding a tube of toothpaste to the end of your favorite golf club.

"I was praying this new shipment would come in," Cuddyer said.

It arrived before Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Red Sox, and Cuddyer used his new lumber to smack a pair of home runs over the Green Monster and extend his Major League-best hitting streak to 23 games, tying current hitting coach Dante Bichette for the franchise record.

"Nothing he does surprises me," said manager Walt Weiss. "He does everything right and it's good to see him playing like he is."

Cuddyer has also reached base safely in 42 straight games, longest in the Majors and longest in Rockies history for a single season.

The 34-year-old has never hit above .284 in a season. He exited play Wednesday with a .344 average, third best in the National League.

"You go through points in the season where you feel really good," Cuddyer said. "Through this little streak I've also gotten lucky. I've gotten some hits in certain games, whether it's a broken bat or infield hits or something like that. Things are just going my way on top of feeling good at the plate. It's just one of those things."