OAKLAND, Calif. — The Red Sox scored eight runs in the first three innings Monday against the Athletics. In all three innings, speedster Jarren Duran singled and stole a base.
“I’ve been privileged to play with him since 2019 in (Double-A) Portland,” starter Tanner Houck said. “You just see the speed. You see the talent there. He’s a menace on the base paths. So I’m glad he’s on our side, for sure.”
Duran’s three-hit, three-steal game and Houck’s 10 strikeouts in 6 scoreless innings lifted the Red Sox to a 9-0 victory over the Athletics here at Oakland Coliseum.
Does Duran agree with Houck that he’s a menace on the base paths?
“I like to think so,” Duran said. “Every time I get on the bases I’m looking to cause havoc, run in guys’ faces, make guys fumble the ball, run down the line hard and stuff like that. So I guess that’s a good thing to call me.”
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His speed did force the Athletics into an error. He advanced to third base on catcher Shea Langeliers’ throwing error when he stole second in the first inning.
Oakland made five errors in the first three innings.
“I’ve been told since I was in college that the team that makes the least amount of errors usually wins the game,” Duran said. “So I’m just trying to cause problems and make them make errors. And we’ve just gotta capitalize on mistakes, which we did tonight.”
Manager Alex Cora added about Duran, “We’re going to push the envelope as a group and he’s the leader. He did a good job going the other way, stealing bases, putting pressure on the opposition.”
Duran had just two hits entering Monday but he feels he has had quality at-bats throughout the first five games.
“Obviously the hits are nice to get but I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball really hard — just right at people,” Duran said. “And I feel like I’m right there. I’m not trying to get out ahead of myself like, ‘I want the hit. I want the hit.’ I’m just trusting the process right now. Just keep hitting the ball hard. Hopefully the game rewards me and gives me those knocks when I hit the ball hard. So I’m just trying to have those quality at-bats.”
