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