When Jarren Duran entered the Boston Red Sox's game on April 5 with brown hair, fans expected his hot streak to dissipate.
Duran had been working platinum hair to begin the season and when his locks turned brown against the Los Angeles Angels, fans thought his good luck would change. The outfielder was on a hot streak, collecting hits and stealing bases multiple times per game.
But Duran came to the plate in the eighth inning of a 6-6 game and crushed his first homer of the season. It ended up being the game-winner.
The Sox weren't finished scoring, though. Tyler O'Neill belted his second long ball of the night in the ninth inning to secure a dramatic finish to one of the strangest baseball games of the year already. Boston bested Anaheim, 8-6, on the backs of five home runs by the Red Sox offense.
The @RedSox fourth HR of the night puts them back in the lead! pic.twitter.com/wdRV80qdp4
— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2024
Jarren Duran belted the Red Sox's game-winning homer, Trevor Story exited with shoulder pain after diving play
Things weren't all positive for Boston, though.
Mike Trout came up to bat in the fourth inning and he laced a hard grounder through the left infield gap. Shortstop Trevor Story threw himself to the ground to make a diving stop on the ball, but he began to writhe in pain almost instantly.
Story had to be helped off the field by trainers and it was later revealed on the broadcast that he was experiencing left shoulder pain. As he walked off the field, Story's arm hung, immobile, by his side. The veteran will undergo an MRI on April 6 to determine the extent of his injury. David Hamilton has been called up and will fill Story's spot in the lineup for the time being.
Story just participated in his first healthy offseason as a member of the Red Sox. He took on leadership roles, held a clinic for the team's infielders and brought his stellar defense into the beginning of Boston's season.
Without Story at shortstop, the Red Sox's defense is seriously jeopardized. He's made multiple plays to save pitchers' outings and his presence offers insurance that other Sox players can't provide.
Hopefully, Boston's luck at the plate continues and Story's injury is not season-ending. His presence in the field is too valuable to be without long-term again.