The outfielder has been out to a slow start, but he put together a great series in Kansas City.
The Boston Red Sox improved to 22-27 on the season with a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, securing their second series sweep of the season. And once again, it was Jarren Duran whose late-game heroics powered the Red Sox to the win.
Kansas City jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a first-inning solo home run off the bat of veteran first baseman Salvador Perez. The Red Sox offense quickly responded, getting to Royals starter Michael Wacha in the top of the second.
First baseman Willson Contreras led off the inning with his first triple since Sept. 3, 2025. Contreras came around to score on an RBI single from third baseman Nick Sogard to tie the game at one. Boston continued to add on in the inning when Carlos Narvaez grounded into a double play, scoring Ceddanne Rafaela to take a one-run lead, 2-1.
It looked to be back to reality for the Red Sox offense after the second, as they failed to capitalize on Wacha's shakiness. After taking the lead in the second inning, Red Sox batters went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Kansas City reclaimed a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when catcher Elias Diaz launched a two-run home run off of Red Sox' starter Connelly Early to make it 3-2. That's a lead they would hold until the sixth inning.
Narvaez led off the inning with a single off of Royals' reliever Steven Cruz. Interim manager Chad Tracy played his first card of the game, turning to Mickey Gasper to hit for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Gasper struck out for the first out of the inning, setting the stage for Duran to play the hero. It had been a rough night at the plate for the 29-year-old left fielder, who entered the at-bat against Cruz 0-for-3 with two strikeouts,
"I know I had a couple of bad at-bats early, but I knew that I was gonna have to come up in a big situation, the game always works out like that," Duran told NESN's Jahmai Webster after the win. "I was just focused on doing something for the team," he continued.
Duran worked ahead in the count 3-1, and did just that, taking a 98.6 mph fastball and launching it 366 feet over the left field wall, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
A monster series from Duran
It was the Jarren Duran show at Kauffman Stadium as the 29-year-old also delivered the knockout punch in the Red Sox's 7-1 win on Tuesday night with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Duran hit .400/.533/1.300 with a double, triple, and a stolen base to go along with the two big homers in the series. According to Red Sox Nation Stats on X/Twitter, with a steal and a triple in the series, Duran became the 11th player in Red Sox history to reach 35 career triples and 100 stolen bases, and the first since Carl Yastrzemski.
Duran's impact was also felt in the field as he made a pair of incredible catches in Tuesday night's win and another leaping grab along the netting in foul territory on Wednesday night.
Duran's big series is a welcome sign for the Red Sox offense, which desperately needs its leadoff man to break out of his prolonged slump. "[The at-bats] have been good for about five days or so, dating back to Atlanta," Tracy told reporters after the win. "When you're sitting atop the offense...if he starts going, it's no secret that's gonna help us go," he continued.
The Red Sox will head back to Boston for an off day on Thursday before opening up a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on Friday night. Rookie left-hander Payton Tolle will get the start opposite fellow rookie lefty Connor Prielipp for the Twins. First pitch from Fenway set for 7:10 p.m. ET.
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