Adrian Gonzalez Finding His Stride At Right Time For Red Sox

Adrian Gonzalez has been the Red Sox' best hitter all season long, but like his team, he struggled towards the beginning of the season, batting .244 with just 11 hits in 45 at bats, one home run and seven RBI after 12 games.

Gonzalez has since flipped the switch, raising his average to .329 while clubbing six home runs and driving in 21 runs in his next 25 games entering this weekend's three-game series with the rival New York Yankees.

In the first two games of the series, Gonzalez is 2-for-8 with two home runs and five RBI. Gonzalez has belted five home runs in his last four games and has homered in seven of his last nine games.

Not so coincidentally, the Red Sox' turnaround from a 2-10 start has coincided with Gonzalez' surge. Ever since Boston's 7-6 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 15, Gonzo has been on a tear, hitting in 25 of 27 games.

During that time frame, Gonzalez is hitting .391 (41-for-115) and has collected two or more hits in 12 of those games.

Is Gonzalez the sole reason for Boston's impressive turnaround? No, the Red Sox pitching staff has done its fair share of the work. Still, Gonzalez has played a big role in the resurgence that's seen Boston win 17 of its last 27 games.

Gonzalez will look to extend his consecutive game home run streak to five as the Red Sox take on the Yankees in the series finale under the lights at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night (8:00 p.m. EDT; TV/Radio: ESPN/WEEI).