Boston Red Sox
Duran was simply on the lookout for an RBI when he stepped into the batter’s field within the third inning. However the dwelling run was a welcome sight.
Jarren Duran is much faraway from his 2024 season by which he completed top-10 in American League MVP voting.
In 2026, the outfielder is struggling to make contact and get on base, the place he can entry his most harmful device: his legs. In 104 at-bats, Duran has mustered only a .232 on-base proportion. His .173 batting common is the worst among qualified Red Sox hitters, and he’s solely walked seven instances all season.
However on Friday night time at Fenway Park, Duran would possibly’ve exorcised just a few demons when he launched a no-doubter 3-run dwelling run into proper area to offer the Crimson Sox a lead.
Runs haven’t been simple to come back by all season for Boston, however Duran jolted his staff to life simply minutes after it fell down 1-0 to the Astros.
Duran admitted he wasn’t essentially centered on hitting it over the wall when he approached the batter’s field.
“I simply received a pitch that I might deal with. I used to be simply making an attempt to get the job carried out, simply tie the sport, get an RBI from third base,” Duran stated. “I simply occurred to run into a house run there.”
Regardless, Duran will take them nevertheless he can get them, and Mike Burrows’s hanging curveball was a adequate pitch for him to take a tough swing at.
He gave loads of credit score to Carlos Narvaez as effectively, who labored an 11-pitch at-bat simply earlier than him to assist tire out Astros starter Mike Burrows.
“At any time when a man has an at-bat like that … you actually received to tip your cap to Narvy,” Duran stated. “Each time he goes to the plate he has a terrific strategy.”
A assured Duran batting within the leadoff place was an excellent recipe for achievement in his greatest MLB season. And if the speedy baserunner discovered just a little little bit of that outdated magic on Friday night time, his turnaround can be a welcome sight for the Crimson Sox, who seemingly lack confidence as a staff after a tough begin to 2026.
As for interim supervisor Chad Tracy, he received his first win at Fenway Park Friday night time. He’ll be on the lookout for a second one on Saturday, with Brayan Bello scheduled to start out towards Houston.
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