The Boston Red Sox have been dealing with a lot of problems hitting with runners in scoring position, so Jarren Duran decided to fire up his team with an electric moment at Progressive Field.
The outfielder hit his third triple of the season in the third inning, then stole home straight up to score the sixth run for his team, who eventually won the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. It was the third steal of home in Jarren Duran’s MLB career, but the first time he did it straight.
«He is kinda the perfect player», said manager Alex Cora to NESN after Saturday’s night game. «He hits the ball out of the ballpark. [Duran] runs fast. He is an exciting player and he is gonna take chances. We some a window there and took advantage of the situation».
Baseball gods can work in mysterious ways. Duran’s straight steal of home happened on the exact same day that Jacoby Ellsbury did it against the New York Yankees in 2009. Ellsbury was the last Red Sox player to accomplish that feat before Saturday night’s game.
«Everybody was excited», Cora added. «Especially Raffy [Devers]. He was the umpire in that play. He called him safe. That’s exciting and for him to do it right away that was great».
Duran’s play came after the Red Sox lost earlier on Saturday in a tough game against the Guardians. They started the first game with a three-run homer by Wilyer Abreu, but Tanner Houck couldn’t maintain the lead and they were eventually beaten.
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Jarren Duran lost his 11-game hitting streak in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, although he did draw a walk. However, he recorded three hits (two singles and a triple) in the second game of the day and is now on a 13-game on-base streak.
