All-Star MVP Duran had a defensive gem to go with winning HR

American League left fielder Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox (16) celebrates with the MVP trophy after the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

All-Star MVP Jarren Duran also had a defensive gem to go with winning HR

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 16, 2024 11:19 PM ET

Boston Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran took home All-Star Game MVP honors on Tuesday night thanks in large part to his two-run home run that ended up being the difference in the American League's 5-3 win.

That alone was going to be enough to help him become the fifth different Red Sox player to earn that distinction. But it was not his only impressive play of the game. In fact, it might not have even been his most impressive play of the game.

His best play might have come in center field in the top of seventh inning when he managed to hold Cincinnati Reds speedster Elly De La Cruz to a long single on a ball that looked to be a sure double.

Have a look.

Great job by Jarren Duran to quickly get to this ball and fire it in to hold the speedy Elly De La Cruz to a single pic.twitter.com/2sYeS0MtZS
— Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL) July 17, 2024

That would prove to be a significant play and ended up saving a run later in the inning when Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds hit a single to left field. Had De La Cruz been on second base, he almost certainly would have scored and cut the American League lead to just one run.

Given De La Cruz's speed, that ball seemed to be deep enough for him to turn that into two, and he likely would have had Duran not gotten to it as quickly as he did.

Here is a look at Duran's game-winning home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jarren Duran homers to make it 5 unanswered runs for the AL squad! #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/jRiI8d8EfE
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024

That was hit off of Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene. Between that, and the play to limit De La Cruz to a single, Durran proved to be quite the thorn in the side of the Reds' All-Stars in this game.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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