Jarren Duran has been the 2024 Red Sox’ most valuable player and he showed the reason why again Tuesday night.
Red Sox' Jarren Duran celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the first inning. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)Getty Images
The 27-year-old center fielder homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning, threw out a runner at second base and began a well executed 8-6-2 relay to throw out a runner at home plate.
He helped Boston end its losing streak (officially four games, unofficially five games) with a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays here at Fenway Park.
Duran’s 369-foot homer was his 20th this season. He is the first player in major league history with at least 10 triples, 20 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 40 doubles in a season, according to Red Sox media relations manager Justin Long via Elias Sports Bureau.
Duran entered Tuesday with the best fWAR among Red Sox players at 6.4, two points higher than Rafael Devers who has the team’s second-highest WAR (4.4).
The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Duran’s solo blast started it. Triston Casas drew a two-out walk, Wilyer Abreu followed with a ground-rule double and Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run single up the middle into center field.
Boston went ahead 6-1 in the fifth inning on David Hamilton’s RBI single, Casas’ RBI double and Abreu’s RBI single.
Perfect 8-6-2 relay home
Will Wagner crushed a double off the Green Monster with two outs in the second inning. Joey Loperfido tried to score from first base but he got thrown out on a perfectly executed relay that went from Duran in center field to shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela to catcher Danny Jansen.
Abreu throws runner out at plate
George Springer hit a 252-foot fly ball to right field that Ernie Clement tried to score on. But right fielder Wilyer Abreu threw out Clement at home for an inning-ending double play.
The Red Sox had three outfield assists. Duran also threw out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at second base when the slugger tried to extend a single into a double during the first inning.
Wednesday’s matchup
Blue Jays righty Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.41 ERA) will pitch opposite Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (11-6, 4.95 ERA) on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
