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Who Really Ended Jackie Bradley Jr.'s Hitting Streak?

By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Red Sox fans will have to focus on Xander Bogaerts' hitting streak from now on, as center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. went 0-for-4 against the Colorado Rockies Thursday night to end his own hit streak at 29 games.

Red Sox fans and media played the blame game on Twitter within minutes. Everyone on the Felger & Mazz program hated Bradley's move from sixth in the lineup to leadoff, and thus blamed John Farrell for messing with the streak.

The Farrell hate was not just from the show. Others piled on.

Though the Farrell blame is admittedly a result of superstition, there is some data to support it. Bradley's batting average has been much lower batting at the top half of the lineup than in the bottom half. However, his stats have a much smaller sample size batting first or second than sixth through ninth.

Here are the facts: Bradley moved around six different spots in the lineup over the course of the streak, at one point moving from ninth to second with the streak at 19 games. Also, Rockies starter Jon Gray retired Bradley in the first inning then settled in after a David Ortiz home run to allow just five total hits to the entire Red Sox lineup.

The more rational, logical crowd on Twitter battled back against the Farrell mob.

One person who is hard to blame for ending the streak is Bradley himself. He made two, deep loud outs to the outfield. If he struck out four times you may be able to argue that he pressed too much with the added pressure of leading off, but he at least hit the ball hard at times.

Ultimately, the Red Sox ran into a good young power pitcher - Gray was the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, four ahead of Red Sox selection Trey Ball - and Bradley did what he could to put the ball in play, and the streak ended. It goes to show how hard it really is to get a hit for 30-plus games in a row. But Farrell's unfortunate timing in moving Bradley from sixth to leadoff provided easy ammunition for superstitious types and Farrell haters to throw culpability the manager's way.

Who do you blame for the end of Bradley's streak? Cast your vote below.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.

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