BOSTON -- Jackie Bradley Jr. is halfway to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, and David Ortiz sees no reason why the Red Sox outfielder should stop there.
Asked how many more games he thinks Bradley can keep it going, Ortiz said "70," before adding an expletive and a smile that said he didn't want to get into the business of making predictions.
"These kids, they work extremely hard. They want to be good," the 40-year-old designated hitter said on Tuesday night after twenty-somethings Bradley andXanderBogaerts each had a pair of hits in an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
"I'm having so much fun watching it," said Ortiz, who had two hits and four RBI. "They make me feel like I'm a part of it. ... They make me feel like I'm their age."
In a rematch of the 2007 World Series, which Boston swept in four games,David Price (7-1) scattered five hits over seven innings and Bradley extended his major league-leading hitting streak to 28 games. Dustin Pedroia added three hits and Christian Vazquez hit his first career triple to help Boston win its third straight.
Charlie Blackmon had a solo homer and DJ LeMahieu had two hits for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in six games.
Price was spotted a 2-0 lead after one inning. Boston made it 4-1 after two and 7-2 in the fourth, when the Red Sox chased Jorge De La Rosa (1-4).
"To go out there, knowing you don't have to be perfect, it's huge," said Price, who allowed three runs, walked one and struck out six to earn his third consecutive win. "At some point, we're going to struggle offensively. That's when the pitchers are going to have to come together."
DE LA ROSA'S RETURN
De La Rosa made his first start after spending almost a month on the disabled list with a left groin strain. He left with one out in the fourth with two on and one run already in.
It was his first appearance in Fenway Park. Asked if he would always remember the experience, he said with a laugh: "I don't want to remember. It was good to pitch here."
PAPI POPPING
Ortiz had a two-run single and a two-run double in his first three at-bats. When he came up in the eighth with one out and a runner on second, he was intentionally walked.
"He's a great hitter, one of the best of certainly our era here," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "You're just in a tough spot there when he comes up with guys on base."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Jason Motte (right shoulder strain) is back with the team, and Weiss said Motte will pitch Wednesday or Thursday. Motte went on the disabled list April 11 and made six rehab appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Red Sox: RHP Carson Smith had Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the team said. Smith appeared in three games this year, pitching 2 2/3 innings and making two trips to the disabled list. ... 1B Hanley Ramirez was lifted after being hit in the right big toe with a pitch. X-rays were negative. ... LHP Eduardo Rodriguez made a rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket, striking out seven in seven innings and allowing one run on four hits.
UP NEXT
The teams play the second game of the three-game series Wednesday night. Colorado's Chad Bettis (4-2) will face knuckleballer Steven Wright (3-4).