Duran’s Daring Steal of Home Lifts Red Sox Past Guardians

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran made history in a 7-3 win against the Cleveland Guardians by pulling off a rare straight steal of home. It was the first time a Red Sox player had done this since Jacoby Ellsbury on April 26, 2009, exactly 16 years ago to the day.

The Story

The exciting sequence started when Duran ripped an RBI triple into the left-field corner, putting himself in scoring position at third. On the very next pitch, he made his move.

Guardians pitcher Doug Nikhazy went into his windup, a pitching motion where the pitcher takes a big step back and winds up his body before throwing. This is different from pitching from the stretch, which is a quicker, simpler motion used when runners are on base. In the windup, it’s harder for pitchers to keep an eye on baserunners, and the Red Sox noticed that Nikhazy wasn't checking Duran at third.

Duran was ready. He crept halfway down the third base line, and as soon as Nikhazy started his motion, he broke into a full sprint toward home. The pitch was coming in at 87 miles per hour, but Duran slid headfirst and avoided the tag from Guardians catcher Bo Naylor. After the play, Duran explained, “I knew I was going first pitch if he was going to give it to me,” and added, "It was just to keep the offense going and cause a little chaos. I knew I had it."

The Aftermath

Even the Guardians tipped their cap to Duran. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt praised him for making "a head's up baseball play." - MLB.com

Duran has now stolen home three times in his career with the Red Sox, but the other two happened during double steals. In a double steal, two runners take off for different bases at the same time, which can distract the defense. A straight steal of home, like Duran pulled off here, is much rarer because it’s done without any help, just the runner and his speed against the pitcher.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora had high praise for his speedy outfielder. “In this environment, with the new rules, he’s kind of like the perfect player,” Cora said. “He runs the bases well and hits the ball hard. He’s an exciting player. We saw a window there and he took advantage.” - MLB.com

Duran's Sterling Career

This moment was just another highlight in what has been an incredible rise for Jarren Duran. Last year, he became an All-Star and even won the All-Star Game MVP award.

His speed, energy, and fearless style of play have made him one of the most exciting players in all of baseball. Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler summed it up perfectly: "It was really a cool play and a cool sequence of events there," Buehler said. "He's one of the most exciting players in baseball. After watching him from afar, it's been fun to see him up close this season." - MLB.com

Duran's daring steal shows why he's becoming one of baseball's most thrilling players to watch. His speed, skill, and smart baseball IQ helped the Red Sox win another exciting game.