Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox's three-game sweep of the Athletics was not only an offensive performance for the ages, it also put Boston in an eerily similar position as its 2013 World Series-winning counterpart.
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On Wednesday, Boston recorded at least 13 runs for a third consecutive game, led by Jackie Bradley Jr., who extended his career-long hitting streak to 17 games by homering twice and driving in six runs. The Sox's 13-run, 17-hit performance in the finale gave them a total of 40 runs on 48 hits for the series. It was the first time since 1999, and the seventh time since 1913, that a team had scored at least 13 runs in three consecutive games.
After 34 games, John Farrell's club has the same record the franchise did in 2013 (21-13). That '13 team went on to win the World Series after leading the majors with 853 runs scored. After this week's outburst, the 2016 Red Sox are on pace for 872 runs.
Player of the Day
Max Scherzer, SP, Nationals: The right-hander became the fourth pitcher ever to record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game (Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson are the others). At one point, Scherzer recorded nine consecutive outs via strikeout. He threw 119 pitches, just 23 of them balls. He also went the distance in beating his old team, the Tigers, 3-2.
MORE: Seven incredible stats from Scherzer's start
Highlight
The Indians-Astros matinee lasted just over five hours, ending when Marwin Gonzalez lined a two-run walkoff home run to right field in the 16th inning for a 5-3 Houston win.
Three things to know
— Chris Iannetta's home run in the 11th inning not only gave the Mariners a walkoff win, it also completed a three-game sweep of the Rays. The AL West leaders are now 16-5 in their past 21 games.
— Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard homered twice and drove in all four of his team's runs in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers. "Thor" also became the second pitcher in Mets history to go deep twice in a game, joining Walt Terrell, who did it in 1983.
— Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran's second-inning home run against the Royals was the 399th of his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga for 54th on the career home run list.
What's next
Astros (14-21) at Red Sox (21-13), 7:10 p.m. ET: A pair of onetime American League Cy Young award winners square off at Fenway Park: Dallas Keuchel (2-3, 4.70 ERA) for the Astros, David Price (4-1, 6.75 ERA) for the Red Sox.
Mets (21-12) at Dodgers (17-17), 10:10 p.m. ET: Hitting a home run in consecutive games may prove to be difficult for Mets starter Bartolo Colon (3-1, 2.82 ERA) as he squares off against Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.04 ERA).