Red Sox reactions: Jarren Duran's 4-RBI day powers blowout over Twins before trade deadline

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6 days ago

MINNEAPOLIS — Instant reactions as the Red Sox (59-51) once again jump out to an early lead against the Twins and cruise to a 13-1 victory (and series win) a day before the trade deadline:
1) Jarren Duran is red-hot. Boston's new No. 3 hitter entered the day hitting .298 with five homers, eight doubles, four triples and a 1.071 OPS in his last 24 games since June 29 and had another big day, blasting another monstrous homer — plus a single and a double — while driving in four runs.
Duran turned a one-run game into a 4-1 lead with a two-run single off starter Zebby Matthews in the fifth. An inning later got a first pitch cutter from Noah Davis (who was in spring training with the Sox) and didn't miss it, crushing it 416 feet at 107.5 mph. He added a hustle double in the top of the ninth.
Duran now has three homers in his last eight games. He had five extra-base hits in three games against the Twins.
2) Brayan Bello's struggles with free passes (he had four walks) didn't stop him from turning in another very good start. The righty has fixed his day game woes in 2025 and was good again Wednesday, holding the Twins to one run over seven innings. He allowed five hits and struck out five.
Minnesota once again couldn't cash in on scoring chances, leaving six on base against Bello. Bello now has a 3.19 ERA in 110 innings so far this season and has put together his best prolonged stretch as a big leaguer in recent weeks.
3) Roman Anthony remained an on-base machine in the leadoff spot. He singled, doubled and was hit by pitch to cap off a stellar series in which he reached base nine times in 16 plate appearances and scored five times.
Anthony is already an offensive star. His fifth-inning double off the right-center wall was the hardest hit of his short MLB career at 113 mph. It looked like it was hit even harder.
4) Trevor Story got the Red Sox on the board with his second homer in as many days with a 110.8 mph rocket off starter Zebby Matthews that barely cleared the left field fence. After a prolonged cold streak after the All-Star break, he's getting hot again. Story doubled, too.
5) Two light-hitting members of the lineup showed signs of life in the win.
Masataka Yoshida, after entering with .220 average and .531 OPS, snuck a two-run single through the right side to turn a 4-1 lead into a 6-1 advantage in the fifth. He later laced his first home run of the year in the ninth inning off position player Kody Clemens, who started the game at first base. Yoshida quadrupled his RBI count and now has four this season.
Connor Wong had his second extra-base hit and first multi-hit game of 2025, blooping a third-inning double and then singling in the fifth. He scored both times he reached base.
6) Ceddanne Rafaela is a highlight reel in center field, as everyone saw again Tuesday night when he made an exceptional diving catch. But he makes an impact at second base, too. In the third, Minnesota was threatening with two men on base after Bello issued two walks. Ryan Jeffers lifted a flare to shallow right-center and Rafaela, using his outfield instincts, made a difficult catch to end the inning to keep it a 1-1 game.
7) Roger Clemens' son, Kody (an infielder) came in to pitch in the ninth inning... and it didn't go well. He gave up a three-run homer to Romy Gonzalez, then a solo blast to Yoshida as part of a five-run frame. Everyone's stat line looked better as a result.
8) The Red Sox, winners of two series in a row, have kept their heads above water during a difficult post-All-Star break stretch and are now 6-6 in the second half of the season. That's acceptable considering the tough schedule (Twins aside), especially in a mushy American League.
9) The Red Sox will have Thursday off — though the front office won't with the trade deadline at 6 p.m. ET — before beginning a homestand Friday against the Astros as Alex Bregman faces his former team for the first time. Here's the schedule (with probables) for that three-game set:
Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.54 ERA) vs. TBA
Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET — LHP Colton Gordon (4-3, 4.74 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.72 ERA)
Sunday, 11:35 a.m. ET — LHP Framber Valdez (11-4, 2.62 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (7-2, 3.80 ERA)
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