All-Star Game notebook: MVP Jarren Duran cements self as one of the 'studs'

 

[July 17, 2024]  Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran found himself starstruck ahead of Tuesday's All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.

After all, the 27-year-old was making his first All-Star Game appearance, just two years removed from a 2022 season in which he constantly bounced in between Triple-A Worcester and the big-league club.

"It was kind of eye-opening," Duran told MLB Network. "You see your teammates every single day and now you look around and you got like (Aaron) Judge, (Juan) Soto, Gunnar (Henderson). ... It's really eye-opening to see all of these studs in one locker room. It's crazy."

But it wasn't Judge, Soto or Henderson who lifted the American League to its 5-3 victory over the National League on Tuesday. It was Duran with his two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth capping a rally that completely erased a 3-0 deficit.

Duran was named the game's MVP, becoming the fifth Red Sox player to win the award, and first since J.D. Drew in 2008.

"Hanging out with all those guys in the dugout was awesome. Everybody was cheering," Duran said. "To be in the locker room is cool. But to see us all in the same uniform from different teams, hanging out together, cheering together, it was a surreal moment for me."

--Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, 22, got the start on the mound for the NL, making him the first rookie to open an All-Star Game on the mound since Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo did so in 1995. Skenes, also a right-hander, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Skenes didn't allow a hit or a run in the first, walking Soto with two outs before getting Soto's New York Yankees teammate Judge to ground into an inning-ending forceout. Skenes threw 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes.

"It was cool to ... throw with (catcher) William (Contreras) and talk through the game plan with him, talk about facing those guys, how we were going to get them out and then going out there and executing," Skenes said. "Obviously, it's the All-Star Game. It's on national TV, which is cool."

--Making his fourth All-Star appearance and first as a member of the NL, Shohei Ohtani clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the third. The last Los Angeles Dodger to go deep during the Midsummer Classic? Mike Piazza in 1996.

--"Good hitter having a great year," said Boston right-hander Tanner Houck, who gave up Ohtani's homer. "There's not many holes in that swing; all you can do is just make your pitch and be as fine as you can."

--A two-run double from Soto and an RBI single from David Fry of the Cleveland Guardians tied things at 3 in the third before Duran became the hero two innings later.

--While facing Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner in the top of the fifth, Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller fired a 103.6-mph fastball in the dirt. It was the fastest pitch in an All-Star Game in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).

--Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase came on for the save in the top of the ninth. He struck out New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso, then got Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz to ground out. The San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill extended the game with a single, but Bryan Reynolds proceeded to strike out on three pitches. Clase becomes the fifth pitcher with multiple saves in All-Star Game history.

--The American League took back the throne on Tuesday night after seeing a nine-game winning streak against the NL end last year. The AL had outscored the NL 40-22 in the nine All-Star Games from 2013-22. No All-Star Game was held during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

--Former Texas Rangers third baseman and first-ballot Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Tuesday night's game. With legendary pitchers Nolan Ryan and Fergie Jenkins by his side, Beltre missed the zone, but it wasn't anything that 21-year major league veteran Ivan Rodriguez couldn't handle behind the plate.

--Field Level Media

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