BASEBALL/Cheng Tsung-che extends multi-hit streak as Red Sox win 7th straight

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwanese infielder Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) extended his multi-hit streak to three games Friday as the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Mets 6-2 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Starting at shortstop and batting ninth, Cheng went 2-for-4 with two singles and two strikeouts, raising his batting average to .308.

After striking out in the second inning, Cheng lined a single to right field in the fourth with Connor Wong on second base and Boston leading 2-1.

Wong was initially ruled safe at home, which would have given Cheng an RBI, but the call was overturned following a video review.

Leading off the seventh, Cheng pushed a bunt into the air that bounced beyond the pitcher's mound. With the shortstop positioned too deep to make a play, Cheng reached first for an infield single.

He later scored on Anthony Seigler's two-run homer, extending Boston's lead to 4-1. Cheng struck out in his final plate appearance in the eighth.

The streak has come despite Cheng's irregular playing time. He recorded two hits against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday and another two-hit game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, but did not play Thursday before returning to the lineup Friday.

Wilyer Abreu added a two-run homer, his 11th of the season, in the ninth to cap the scoring for Boston. The Mets scored once in the bottom half to make it 6-2.

Abreu led the Red Sox with three hits, while four Boston players recorded multi-hit games.

Red Sox starter Sonny Gray earned his 11th win of the season after allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings while striking out six.

His ERA fell to 2.54, and his 11 wins are tied for second most in the majors with Cincinnati's Chase Burns, one behind MLB leader Aaron Ashby's 12.

Mets starter Sean McLean took his sixth loss after allowing two unearned runs over six innings.

With the win, Boston improved to 44-48 and moved provisionally into third place in the American League East.