‘That Is Ridiculous’: Red Sox Broadcasters Have Had It With Team’s Left Fielder After Mid-Game Outburst

Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran authored an ugly moment during Thursday night’s game against the Athletics in West Sacramento, prompting the team’s radio broadcasters to call him out on his behavior.

With the game tied 3-3 with runners on second and third and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Duran hit a shallow fly ball to left field caught by Tyler Soderstrom. The runner at third, Willson Contreras – a former catcher-turned first baseman – wisely chose not to attempt to tag up and score. Duran was upset at this non-development, and as he headed back toward the Red Sox dugout on the first base side, he threw his right hand up and yelled, “Run!” in the direction of Contreras and Red Sox third base coach Chad Epperson. Upon returning to the dugout, he resumed yelling toward them while throwing up both hands.

Duran’s reaction perplexed NESN analyst Lou Merloni in the Red Sox television broadcast booth.

“I don’t know what that was about,” he said of the struggling outfielder who is batting just .195. “It was too shallow.”

Over on WEEI, the Red Sox radio booth laid into Duran, who once got into a verbal altercation with a fan and gave an obscene gesture to another fan on separate occasions.

“Jarren Duran looked like he was upset that Contreras didn’t come home and score,” WEEI play-by-play man Will Flemming said. “You kidding me? What is that?”

“No idea what that was,” color man Lenny DiNardo replied.

“That is ridiculous,” Flemming said. “That is such a tired act, Lenny.”

“If he would’ve gone right there,” DiNardo said of Contreras, “he would’ve been out by 10 feet.”

“What are we doing?” Flemming said. “You cannot do that.”

Moments later, Flemming reported, “Duran just slammed an iPad down… Look, we get it. You’re a struggling hitter. You’re frustrated. It’s been a long year. Team game. You cannot do that.”

“Even if you feel that way, guess what?” DiNardo replied. “Keep it to yourself.”

“Lenny, this whole thing has been predicated on a group mentality,” Flemming said, alluding to the Red Sox’ stunning turnaround in which they have gone from the worst team in the American League to a wild card spot in less than two months. “Everybody rowing in the same direction.”

Boston trailed 4-3 in the top of the eighth when Wilyer Abreu and Contreras hit back-to-back solo home runs to put the Red Sox ahead 5-4, which ended up the final score.

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