Thanks to Jarren Duran’s decisive two-run home run in the fifth inning, the American League triumphed over the National League with a 5-3 victory in the 94th MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night. The Boston Red Sox star hit the home run off Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene, breaking the tie at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and earning the All-Star Game MVP title.
Two innings after his home run, Duran made a swift play in center field to quickly retrieve a base hit by Reds speedster Elly De La Cruz, restricting him to a single. Later in the inning, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds hit a single that would likely have driven in De La Cruz, had Duran not limited him to first base.
Duran’s performance, which included driving in two runs and preventing one in the field, earned him the MVP award. He is the fifth Red Sox player to win this accolade, joining the ranks of Carl Yastrzemski (1970), Roger Clemens (1986), Pedro Martinez (1999), and J.D. Drew (2008).
The 27-year-old Duran was selected for his first All-Star Game with a .284/.342/.477 batting line and 22 stolen bases in the first half of the season. He leads the league with 27 doubles and 10 triples, and has hit 10 home runs. Duran is ranked fifth among all players with a 5.1 WAR.