Boston Red Sox
Duran was just looking for an RBI when he stepped into the batter’s box in the third inning. But the home run was a welcome sight.
Jarren Duran had a curveball he could handle and sent it over the right field wall on Friday night. (Finn Gomez/The Boston Globe)
Jarren Duran is a far cry from a 2024 season in which he finished in the top 10 in MLB MVP voting.
In 2026, the outfielder struggles to make contact and get on base, where he has access to his most dangerous tool: his legs. In 104 at-bats, Duran mustered just a .232 on-base percentage. His batting average is .173 Worst among eligible Red Sox hittersand he only walked seven times all season.
But on Friday night at Fenway Park, Duran may have exorcised some demons when he launched a no-doubt three-run home run to right field to give the Red Sox the lead.
Making a run hasn’t been easy all season for Boston, but Duran brought his team back to life just minutes after falling 1-0 to the Astros.
Duran admitted that he wasn’t necessarily focused on hitting it against the wall when he approached the batter’s box.
“I just got a pitch I can handle. I was just trying to get the job done, just tie the game, get an RBI from third base,” Doran said. “I happened to run home there.”
Regardless, Duran would take it the way he could get it, and Mike Burroughs’ suspended curveball was good enough pitch for him to swing hard.
He gave plenty of credit to Carlos Narvaez as well, who worked 11 pitches directly in front of him to help wear down Astros outfielder Mike Burroughs.
“When someone has a bat like that… you honestly have to tip your hat to Narvi,” Duran said. “Every time he goes to the plate he has great technique.”
Duran’s confident hitting in the leadoff position was a good recipe for success in his best MLB season. And if the speedy base runner finds a little of that old magic on Friday night, his turnaround will be a welcome sight for the Red Sox, who appear to lack confidence as a team after a rocky start to 2026.
As for interim manager Chad Tracy, he earned his first win at Fenway Park on Friday night. He’ll be looking for a second goal on Saturday, with Brian Bellew scheduled to start against Houston.
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