The Boston Red Sox underwent a 22-run, three-plus-hour-long roller coaster Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles in the biggest series (so far) of the season, and they picked right back up from where the team left off Saturday.
Boston didn't have 12 runs of offense to work with, however, the team did receive a top-notch performance from All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran -- in clutch fashion, too. In the seventh inning, Duran delivered a go-ahead two-run single on a 2-2 count, giving the Red Sox a much-needed two-run lead to alleviate the pressure on Boston's bullpen to maintain its effort of keeping Baltimore's lineup scoreless.
"He's one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "Base hit up the middle, stolen base, the robbery. It was fun to watch. It's good to see the kid smile. It's been a tough week and we're not gonna hide from that; we gotta work. But it was for him tonight."
As if coming through with the biggest at-bat of the night wasn't enough, Duran lent another helping hand in the ninth inning -- this time, with some jaw-dropping glovework to secure the 5-1 victory in Baltimore -- as closer Kenley Jansen worked to put away the Orioles.
Duran robbed Baltimore's Eloy Jiménez of a solo home run to secure out No. 2 of the ninth inning, and a must-see web gem for the 27-year-old Red Sox stud.
"I'm just trying to follow in (Ceddanne Rafaela's) footsteps," Duran said postgame, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "I mean, he's one of the best center fielders in the game so watching him make plays like that, it inspires the outfield group so it was awesome.
Duran also stole his 30th base of the season in the win. He and teammate David Hamilton (31) have each totaled over 30 stolen bases this season for Boston, becoming the first duo of Red Sox teammates to do so since 1910.
"I just feel like our group, we're so athletic and we can put a lot of pressure on the defense," Duran said, per NESN. "But honestly, I think my favorite thing is being on first base when (Hamilton) is at second cause I know I'm gonna get a free bag when he takes third (and) I can just trot into second base."
Here are more notes from Saturday night's Red Sox-Orioles game:
-- Red Sox starter Brayan Bello took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, finishing the night allowing one earned run through six innings of work, off two hits and three walks while striking out six Baltimore hitters. Bello improved to 11-5 this season.
"The pitch count was up," Cora said, per NESN. "He walked a few guys, he got into some deep counts. Right now we're not looking for no-hitters or perfect games. We're looking for W's and that was a big one for us."
-- Jansen threw only seven pitches to record a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Orioles.
-- Boston, now 65-57, sits 2 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third and final wild card spot in the American League with 40 games left.
-- The Red Sox and Orioles will wrap up their four-game division clash Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Oriole Park at Camden Yards is set for 1:35 p.m. ET, and you watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.
