BOSTON — The Red Sox set a franchise single-game record with nine steals in a 9-3 win over the Yankees on Sunday. Boston’s previous record of eight steals happened Sept. 29, 1940 against the then-Philadelphia Athletics.
“Hammy kind of carried the load there but glad I got a couple,” leadoff hitter Jarren Duran said. “It just kind of shows that when we can run the bases like we can, it does a lot for the team and puts us really in a good spot. So I’m really proud of the team for being able to make that accomplishment.”
David “Hammy” Hamilton stole four bases. He joins Jacoby Ellsbury and Jerry Remy as the only Red Sox players ever to steal four or more bases in a game. Ellsbury holds the franchise single-game record with five steals May 30, 2013.
“You can see in their dugout just trying to contain us,” manager Alex Cora said. “We just kept going and we’re not going to stop.”
Duran had two steals. Dom Smith, Ceddanne Rafaela and Bobby Dalbec each had one steal.
“I didn’t know about the record until they put it up on the big screen,” Duran said. “I was like, ‘Oh, wow. We set a record.’ But hey, man. Records are meant to be broken. So I’m sure ours will be broken eventually. It doesn’t really mean much but we’re just going to keep doing our thing.”
Hamilton leads the Red Sox with 18 steals. Duran has 17 and he’s on pace for 23 triples, which would set a franchise single-season record. Who’s faster?
“I don’t know. He’s pretty fast,” Hamilton said. “We’ve gotta get a race going sometime. Maybe this offseason. We’ll see.”
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The Red Sox took two of three games against the first-place Yankees who own MLB’s best record. They also won two of three games on this six-game homestand against the Phillies, who are tied with the Orioles for MLB’s second best record.
“Probably the loudest baseball atmosphere I’ve been a part of and it was a good experience,” Hamilton said about Sunday’s game.
The Red Sox scored 17 runs the past two games despite zero home runs.
“I think the identity is showing up now,” Cora said. “Just a bunch of athletes putting good at-bats.”
Hitters on the Red Sox’ active roster entered Sunday just 6-for-42 (.143 batting average) with two extra-base hits, four walks and nine strikeouts against Yankees starter Marcus Stroman. But Boston used its speed to get to Stroman who lasted 5 innings and allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks while striking out three.
The Red Sox stole six bases against catcher Jose Trevino during Stroman’s 5 innings. Hamilton manufactured runs in the third and fourth innings using his speed.
The speedster walked to begin the third inning. He stole second and advanced to third base with no outs on Rob Refsnyder’s single. Hamilton scored when Rafael Devers grounded into a double play, putting Boston ahead 3-1.
Hamilton singled to begin the fourth inning, then stole both second and third. He scored on Devers’ RBI sac fly to center field.
“Every time he gets a single it’s like, ‘Ah, double. Maybe a triple,’” Duran said. “Like tonight. He stole second, stole third. So it’s so awesome to watch him steal.”
Duran said the Red Sox’ speed puts opposing pitchers in a tough spot. Boston is fifth in the majors in steals with 69.
“Because maybe they have to slide step and they’re not comfortable slide stepping. And they have to pick over. Maybe they’re not good at picking over,” Duran said. “Just little things like that kind of make them uncomfortable knowing we’re going to steal bases on them. So hopefully that gets them out of the groove.”
Hamilton owns both Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester’s single-season stolen base records. He swiped 70 bases in 119 games for Portland in 2022, then 57 bases in 103 games for Worcester last year.
Cora is using elite speed at the top of the lineup, batting Duran first and Hamilton second.
“It’s awesome. Jarren’s a great hitter,” Hamilton said. “It’s fun hitting behind him because I can see how they’re pitching him and it kind of gives me a little detail to how they might pitch me. It’s fun hitting behind him. He’s a great player.”
