Cup of Coffee: Duran steals home again, Eovaldi rehabs
9/24 Cup of Coffee: With Portland's elimination on Wednesday night, Worcester is the last affiliate remaining. It welcomed Nathan Eovaldi for a rehab start, but Jarren Duran (pictured) stole the show and a lot of bases.
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Nathan Eovaldi, out since early August with shoulder inflammation, returned to the mound for a rehab start at Polar Park. It was an inauspicious start for the veteran righty, as the Mets opened with a single and a Dom Smith two-run homer to begin the game, but he settled in from there, allowing just one additional run on one hit over three innings. Overall he struck out four, walked two, and threw 57 pitches in those three frames. Josh Winckowski was charged with the loss in relief, allowing two runs on six hits in 4 2/3. He struck out and walked four apiece.
Jarren Duran was the highlight at the plate. The leadoff hitter was 3 for 5 and spent the evening racing around the bases. He swiped three bags, including a straight steal of home in the fifth inning that gave the WooSox a short-lived 4-3 lead. Duran had previously stolen home a week earlier. Ronaldo Hernandez delivered a two-run homer in the first inning.
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Player of the Day: The major league introductions have been frustrating for Jarren Duran, but he has been pushing for another opportunity. With a three-hit, three-steal game last night, he is up to .302/.373/.434 over his last 14 games, with six stolen bases, seven runs scored, and only seven strikeouts in 59 plate appearances.
Photo Credit: Jarren Duran by Kelly O'Connor