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Red Sox OF Duran bickers with Royals fans after latest misplays

Ed Zurga / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran made a pair of misplays in center during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Following the defensive gaffes, he seemed to get into a verbal dispute with spectators. Then, after making a diving catch to retire MJ Melendez, Duran continued his argument with the fans and was briefly restrained by teammate Alex Verdugo.

The first misplay was on a relatively routine fly ball off the bat of Nate Eaton, which Duran lost in the sun. Eaton was credited with a triple.

Kyle Isbel, the very next batter, then tested Duran's range into deep right-center, also collecting a triple on what would've been a spectacular jumping catch at the wall.

After the Melendez catch, Bobby Witt Jr. also flew out to Duran, marking four consecutive balls fielded by the 25-year-old.

"He's our center fielder right now. We trust him," manager Alex Cora said after the contest, according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. "This is a kid. That's part of what we're trying to accomplish and we're going to keep rolling with him."

Duran said postgame that fans were throwing bottle caps at him, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

These miscues were the latest for Duran after he brutally misread a fly ball in late July against the Toronto Blue Jays, which gifted Raimel Tapia an inside-the-park grand slam.

Duran has become the de facto center fielder for the Red Sox after Jackie Bradley Jr. was designated for assignment and released Thursday. Duran is hitting .225/.275/.375 with two homers and seven stolen bases in 42 games entering Sunday. He also ranks in the 61st percentile in the majors in outfield jump, according to Baseball Savant. The sophomore has cost the Red Sox 3.4 runs with his poor defense, according to UZR.

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