BOSTON — George Springer’s 369-foot fly ball to right-center field was catchable but Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran lost sight of it when it crossed in front of the sun. Duran said he should have done a better job communicating with right fielder Alex Verdugo.
If Duran had caught the ball, Springer would have made the final out of the top of the third inning. The game also would have remained scoreless. Instead, Springer reached on a ground-rule double and the Blue Jays rallied for four runs with two outs. Boston lost 13-1 here at Fenway Park as Toronto completed a critical three-game series sweep.
“That was terrible leadership … on my part. I didn’t talk to Dugie before the play,” Duran said. “Because the ball was going to cross over the sun, which would have been easy for him to make the play. But I didn’t take charge. I didn’t talk to him before the play even happened to let him know, hey, if the ball hits here, it probably will be easier for him. But it was just an all-around terrible play on my part. Totally on me. I should have made the play. I didn’t communicate. Just a terrible play on my part.”
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The Red Sox lost the seventh time in eight games. They have scored three or fewer runs in seven of their past nine games. Boston entered the weekend two games behind Toronto for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Red Sox (57-54) now trail Toronto (63-50) by five games and four games in the loss column. The Mariners and Yankees also are ahead of Boston while behind the Blue Jays.
Duran said he lost the ball at the last second.
“It wasn’t going to cross and then it ended up crossing (in front of the sun),” Duran said. “Just lost it. I got those little black dots in my eyes and I just totally blew it.”
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Matt Chapman crushed a two-run double after Springer’s ground-rule double. Cavan Biggio followed with an RBI double. Kevin Kiermaier then delivered an RBI single.
“It’s a tough one, especially losing to those guys. We’ve been playing them good all year and then they came in here and punched us in the mouth early,” Duran said.
