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Alex Cora: Boston Red Sox speedster ‘seems like a different hitter’
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- Alex Cora: Boston Red Sox speedster ‘seems like a different hitter’
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Alex Cora likely will use speedy left fielder Jarren Duran in the No. 3 spot of the batting order to begin the regular season.
Duran produced there in the Red Sox ’ 11-10 win over the Blue Jays in Grapefruit League action Sunday at JetBlue Park.
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“He hit two balls right on the screws today,” Cora said. “So that’s a good sign.”
Duran went 2-for-3. He crushed two doubles with exit velocities of 105.4 mph and 104.6 mph.
“I know it’s early, but JD seems like a different hitter,” Cora said. “Hitting the ball really hard to the pull side. Getting to some pitches that last year probably he didn’t get (to). Expecting a lot of big things from him.”
Duran pulled his first-inning double to right field. His ground-rule double in the fifth inning went the right field line.
“Be on time and hit the ball hard — that’s what we want," Cora said. “And it felt like last year he was in between. Between the leg kick and this and that. And this year, in the offseason, the work was about that — just be on time."
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Cora pointed out that Duran also has had impressive at-bats during live batting practice sessions, including against Aroldis Chapman .
“When he’s on time and swinging at pitches in the zone, he hits it hard,” Cora said. “He’s done it the whole spring.”
Duran started 25 games in the third spot of the batting order last season. He went .266 with a .384 on-base percentage, .479 slugging percentage, .863 OPS, four home runs, eight doubles and 15 RBIs in 112 plate appearances.
“At the end, when Roman (Anthony) got hurt, we got back to him leading off, and he was trying to force it,” Cora said. “I thought he chased pitches. He was trying to force the action instead of letting the game come to him. Last year, hitting third, he was able to slow down. He was outstanding with men in scoring position. Him and Trevor (Story).”
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Durbin goes 1-for-3
Caleb Durbin went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and run in Boston ’s four-run first inning.
The Red Sox acquired Durbin in a six-player trade with the Brewers on Feb. 9.
“You see the at-bat from Caleb; it’s a different at-bat,” Cora said. “We will make contact in that spot. Today was a good sign of that. Like a good reminder of who he is as a hitter. We can hit him second, we can hit him sixth. I think it makes the lineup longer and just a different dynamic. Hitting him in that spot, expecting Wily (Abreu) and Masa (Yoshida) or whoever’s hitting fifth that particular day, that they’re going to get on.”
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