16 Will Middlebrooks, 3B

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks came up big in the late stages of Thursday's contest against the Rays.

Down 3-1 in the ninth, Middlebrooks lined a two-out, bases-clearing double that gave the Red Sox the lead. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk and three RBI in a 4-3 victory.

Middlebrooks is hitting .296 with a home run, five RBI and seven doubles in his last six games. His batting average has risen from .192 to .211 over that span. He has a .211/.245/.429 slash line with seven homers and 17 RBI in 147 at-bats.

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks said Wednesday he continues having difficulty catching his breath and sleeping on his right side following a collision with teammate David Ross last week, according to the Boston Herald. Although, surprisingly, the collision has coincided with Middlebrooks emerging from an early season slump.

Since sitting out a game to rest his rib-cage injury, Middlebrooks is batting .292 (7 for 24) with a home run, two RBI and six doubles in his last six games.

"Whether it coincides with the collision, and I mean that with all sincerity, he’s not pulling off the ball as much," manager John Farrell said. "He’s staying to the middle of the field, and that’s when his power really shows and the bat stays in the zone longer."

Middlebrooks downplays the notion the injury helped with his struggles. In fact, he said slow starts are nothing new.

"I’ve gone through this at almost every level," Middlebrooks said. "Just not quite this long, and the resources weren’t as good for (pitchers) to pick me apart. But it’s not other guys picking me apart. It’s beating myself, and that’s the thing that’s frustrating."

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks homered in the eighth inning of Wednesday's win at Tampa Bay. Boston scored eight runs in the third inning and won, 9-2.

Middlebrooks' homer gave the game its final score as he went deep for the seventh time this season. He finished 2 for 4 but is batting just .208.

It has been a season of streaks for Middlebrooks, who hopes his game Wednesday starts another positive one. He has produced, just not consistently thus far. Still, he has seven homers and 14 RBI to go with a .424 slugging percentage.

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks is playing with a separated rib, WEEI.com reports. Middlebrooks suffered a tear of the rib bone from the cartilage that connects it to his sternum Tuesday. 

Middlebrooks is playing through the pain.

"I just went to John [Lackey] and said, ‘Hey, give me a second.’ I couldn’t catch my breath. I still can’t. I take that deep breath and just, the swelling -- I don’t know if it’s in my lungs or just the muscles around it or it spasmed up," Middlebrooks said. "I just told John and said, ‘Hey, let me have a sec.’ He called them in and I was like, ‘Ugh.’ He said, ‘I thought you were going to have a heart attack and just wanted to get them out there. Plus, it gives you a little extra time.’ I just needed a sec. I’d just hit that double and I just couldn’t catch my breath."

Middlebrooks went 2 for 4 Friday with two doubles and seven assists in the field. 

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks was back in action Thursday night against the Twins.

Middlebrooks doubled to deep center in the second for his only hit of the night. He finished 1 for 4 in a 5-3 defeat.

Middlebrooks is hitting .192 (5 for 26) with seven strikeouts since the start of May. He is hitting .194/.229/.379 with six homers and 12 RBI in 124 at-bats.