Justin Turner Extends MLB-Best Hitting Streak, Approaches Boston Red Sox History
Boston Red Sox third baseman Justin Turner extended his hitting streak to 14 games on Tuesday night, inching him one step closer to an interesting franchise record.
The 38-year-old Turner went 1-for-4 in the Red Sox's 3-0 road loss to the Oakland Athletics, which helped him hold onto the longest active hitting streak in MLB.
According to SoxNotes' J.P. Long, Turner is now tied for the second-longest hitting streak by a Red Sox batter at age 38 or older. A 38-year-old Bob Johnson had a hitting streak reach 14 games in 1944, and Luis Aparicio had one of his own at age 39 in 1973.
Hall of Fame left fielder Ted Williams had a 17-game hitting streak in 1957, when he was 38 years old.
Turner is currently hitting .290 with an .831 OPS so far this season, going for 14 home runs, 58 RBI and four stolen bases along the way.
During his hitting streak, Turner is 21-for-53 at the plate, which is good for a .396 batting average. Turner has added three home runs, five doubles and 17 RBI in that span while recording a 1.087 OPS.
The Red Sox signed Turner to a two-year, $21.7 million contract this past offseason, luring him away from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Turner spent nine seasons in Los Angeles, making two All-Star teams and contributing to the Dodgers' 2020 World Series run while hitting .296 with 156 home runs, 574 RBI and an .865 OPS.
Turner had primarily been playing designated hitter for Boston, but he moved to third when Rafael Devers dropped out of the lineup with right calf soreness on Monday. Devers' status for the series finale against the Athletics on Wednesday remains uncertain.
First pitch between the Red Sox and Athletics is scheduled for 3:37 p.m. ET.
Left-hander Ken Waldichuk is scheduled to start for the A's. Turner is hitting .300 with a .941 OPS against lefties this season, compared to a .286 average and .787 OPS versus righties.
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