KANSAS CITY -- The Jarren Duran show at Kauffman Stadium had an encore, and a much-needed one for the Red Sox.
While Duran broke the game open with a huge swing in the ninth inning on Tuesday, he put his team ahead on getaway Wednesday, belting a two-run homer down the line in left with one out in the seventh to lead his team to a 4-3 victory that capped a three-game sweep over the Royals.
And Duran once again didn’t limit his heroics to offense.
In the bottom of the third inning, Duran made like Spider-Man, leaping in front of the netting down the left-field line to make a tremendous catch in foul territory, prompting a wide smile from starting pitcher Connelly Early.
It was Duran’s third highlight-reel play in the final two games of this series.
Speaking of Early, he gave Boston’s stellar starting rotation its latest quality start, going 6 1/3 innings while scattering six hits and three runs, walking one and striking out five.
The Sox (22-27) completed the road trip with a 4-2 mark and will start a six-game homestand against the Twins on Friday night.
The Royals got a quick run off Early in the first when Salvador Perez lined a solo homer to left with two outs in the first.
But back came the Red Sox for two of their own in the second against Michael Wacha when Willson Contreras got it started with a triple, his second since 2023. Nick Sogard tied it up with an RBI single before Boston added on later in the inning when Carlos Narváez hit into a double play with the bases loaded.
The slight lead stood until the fifth when Elias Diaz mashed a two-run homer off Early. Then, Duran’s two-run blast was enough for Aroldis Chapman to earn his 12th save with a scoreless ninth.