The Boston Red Sox dominated the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on Thursday night, securing a 9-3 victory. This win improved the Red Sox’s record to 35-34, putting them above .500 for the season, while the Phillies, now at 46-22, suffered their second consecutive loss.
Jarren Duran, the Red Sox’s leadoff hitter, continued his impressive season by going 2-for-4, scoring a run, and driving in two more. His two doubles placed him in a remarkable category within team history. According to @JayHayKid from the “Baseball is Dead” podcast, Duran joins Nomar Garciaparra (1997, 2003), José Offerman (1999), Johnny Damon (2002), and Jacoby Ellsbury (2009) as the only Red Sox players in the past 70 years to record 5 home runs, 10 triples, 20 doubles, and 15 stolen bases in a single season.
With 93 games remaining, Duran is on track to set additional records if he maintains his health and performance. The 27-year-old is also a strong candidate for a spot on the American League All-Star team next month. He currently has a batting average of .272, with five home runs, 30 RBI, and 15 stolen bases, boasting an OPS of .806. This achievement is particularly notable given the absences of Trevor Story for the season, Triston Casas on the 60-day IL, and Masataka Yoshida missing significant time due to injury. Despite the lack of lineup support, Duran continues to excel.
The Red Sox are set to begin a critical series against their division rivals, the New York Yankees, on Friday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.