Jarren Duran’s first All-Star Game was a huge success.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and was named All-Star Game MVP Tuesday in a 5-3 American League victory over the National League.
The National League struck first, thanks to a massive three-run homer by Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani in the third inning.
The American League rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by Juan Soto and a single by David Fry that drove in Soto from second. Neither team scored a run in the fourth inning before Duran scored again for the American League in the fifth.
With two outs and Anthony Santander on first, Duran lined an 0-1 splitter off Hunter Greene deep into the right-field seats.
The two-run blast gave the American League a 5-3 lead that stood as the final score. American League pitching held the National League scoreless over the final six innings, allowing Oakland Athletics reliever Mason Miller to pick up the win with just one scoreless inning pitched.
The homer was Duran’s only hit of the night in two at-bats, but it was enough to secure him the MVP trophy.
The award highlights a standout campaign for Duran in his fourth MLB season. The 27-year-old made the All-Star break batting .284/.342/.477 with 10 homers, 41 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. His 27 doubles and 10 triples are tops in the American League. Best known for his speed, he got the job done with his power on baseball’s biggest midseason stage.
