Red Sox Strike Early, Often in Blowout

Every win recently seems to provide another standout offensive performance by a member of the Boston Red Sox.

In Thursday night's 13-2 beatdown of visiting Minnesota, it was Dustin Pedroia's turn to get in on the action.

Pedroia had five hits of the Sox' 17 hits Thursday, just one day after Hanley Ramriez slugged three homers. Boston, which has feasted on poor pitching as of late, has won 12 of 15 July games to take sole possession of first place in the AL East.

Mookie Betts also homered on the first pitch, and Jackie Bradley Jr. and David Ortiz went deep as well.

Knuckleball All-Star Steven Wright shined in eight innings of work, striking out nine and allowing four hits.

Boston faces another struggling hurler in Kyle Gibson tonight. The Sox counter with Eduardo Rodriguez, who will look to build on a successful outing in New York.