Duran leads off with 20th homer, Red Sox stop skid with 6-3 win over Blue Jays

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran led off with a homer, Masataka Yoshida added a two-run single in a three-run first inning, and the Boston Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

David Hamilton, Triston Casas and Wilyer Abreu also drove in runs for Boston, which had not won since beating Houston last Wednesday.

The turnaround started with Duran, manager Alex Cora said.

“He’s one of the best players in the big leagues. Every night, you’re like in awe of the things he’s doing,” Cora said. “He set the tempo right away. Got a pitch in, hit it hard and from there we just kept going.”

Duran is the first player in the majors since at least 1901 to reach 40 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season, according to the Red Sox.

“It’s a cool honor, but at the end of the day it doesn’t do anything for the team unless I’m helping them win. But it’s a pretty awesome stat to have,” Duran said.

Boston ended the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak. Toronto has still won 10 of its last 15, placing the team on the verge of climbing from the bottom of the AL East standings.

Will Wagner hit his first career homer for Toronto and Daulton Varsho hit a solo shot in the ninth. Varsho also had a single in the seventh and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The homer also extended the Blue Jays' run of consecutive games with at least one home run to 16 straight.

Duran hit his 20th homer of the season, driving an 0-1 fastball from Yariel Rodríguez to right. Boston added three in the fifth when Hamilton hit an RBI single, Casas drove in a run with a double and Abreu added an RBI single.

Wagner homered in the sixth, taking a sinker from Brennan Bernadino out to right-center and cutting Boston’s lead to 6-2. Varsho hit his in the ninth, taking Jansen to the deepest part of the ballpark.

Cooper Criswell pitched 3 1/3 innings for Boston, allowing one run on five hits and three walks. He also hit two batters. Greg Weissert (3-2) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Rodríguez (1-6) allowed six earned runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.

"I think when you get down in this park it’s tough," Toronto manager John Schneider. “We had chances and I thought the guys really swung the bats well and just didn’t really cash in on the opportunities.”

Boston catcher Danny Jansen, who made history Monday when he played for the Red Sox in a game he started for Toronto before it was suspended because of weather June 26, helped stop two runs with some nice defense.

Jansen tagged out Joey Loperfido at the plate as he tried to score on a double by Wagner in the second.

In the fourth, Ernie Clement tried unsuccessfully to get around Jansen after tagging up on a fly to deep right by George Springer. Abreu’s throw was on target and in time to complete the unusual inning-ending double play.

Schneider said that Jansen was showing off the defensive skills he honed with the Blue Jays. Schneider also made several references to Boston's overall defense.

“You never want to make outs on the bases, but aggressive outs are OK,” Schneider said. “When you’re putting pressure on the other team to make really good plays, we’re good with that. Tonight they made really good plays.”

BACK AGAIN

The Red Sox have Rich Hill on the roster again, selecting the 44-year-old lefty from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. Hill has a chance to add a little more history to a lengthy career. One outing in 2024 would make him the only active player to appear in a game in each of the past 20 seasons.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers had the night off because of shoulder soreness. … Placed RHP Lucas Sims (right lat strain) on the 15-day injured list and designated RHP Brad Keller for assignment. The Red Sox added Hill to the active roster and recalled Weissert from Worcester.

UP NEXT

RHP Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.41 ERA) is slated to start Wednesday night for the Blue Jays, facing RHP Brayan Bello (11-6, 4.95) for the Red Sox.

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, center, walks from the bullpen after a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner is congratulated by Joey Loperfido, right, after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen is congratulated by pitcher Rich Hill, left, after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner is congratulated by third base coach Carlos Febles (51) after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Triston Casas pumps his fist after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu leaps but can't make the catch on a solo home run by Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Spencer Horwitz, right, watches the ball as Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela reaches first on a throwing error by Blue Jay's pitcher Tommy Nance during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodríguez watches Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran (16) drive a home run ball during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, right, is congratulated by third base coach Kyle Hudson while rounding the bases on his solo home run ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

WINDER, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia county's emergency call center was overwhelmed by calls on Sept. 4 about a school shooting at Apalachee High School, records released Friday by Barrow County show.

Local news organizations report many of the 911 phone calls were not released under public record requests because state law exempts from release calls recording the voice of someone younger than 18 years old. That exemption would cover calls from most of the 1,900 students at the school in Winder, northeast of Atlanta.

Calls spiked around 10:20 a.m., when authorities have said that 14-year-old Colt Gray began shooting. Many calls were answered with automated message saying there was a “high call volume," WAGA-TV reported.

One man called 911 after receiving text messages from a girlfriend. He was put on hold for just over 10 minutes because of an influx of calls at the time of the shooting, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“She hears people yelling outside, so I don’t know if that’s officers in the building or that’s — I don’t know,” he said, adding that she was eventually evacuated out of the school.

Other adults also called 911 after their children contacted them.

“My daughter calling me crying. Somebody go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom,’ ” one mother said. The 911 operator responded: “Ma’am we have officers out there, OK?”

Parents of students at an elementary school and middle school neighboring Apalachee also flooded 911 seeking information.

“Sir, my daughter goes to school next door to Apalachee. Is there a school shooter?" one caller asked.

“We do have an active situation (at) Apalachee High School right now," the operator responded. "We have a lot of calls coming in.”

More than 500 radio messages between emergency personnel were also released Friday.

“Active shooter!” an officer yells in one audio clip while speaking with a dispatcher, CNN reported. Another officer responds, “Correct. We have an active shooter at Apalachee High School.”

The shooting killed teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, with seven of those hit by gunfire.

Colt Gray is charged as an adult with four counts of murder, and District Attorney Brad Smith has said more charges are likely to be filed against him in connection with the wounded. Authorities have also charged his father, Colin Gray, alleging that he gave his son access to the gun when he knew or should have known that the teen was a danger to himself and others.

The 13,000 students at Barrow County’s other schools returned to class Tuesday. The 1,900 students who attend Apalachee are supposed to start returning the week of Sept. 23, officials said Friday.

Mourners listen to a speaker during a candlelight vigil for the slain students and teachers at Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A memorial is seen at Apalachee High School after the Wednesday school shooting, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

This combo of images show shooting victims, from left, Christian Angulo, Mason Schermerhorn, Cristina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall, displayed at a memorial outside Apalachee High School, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)

Two students view a memorial as the flags fly half-staff after a shooting Wednesday at Apalachee High School, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

911 calls overwhelmed operators after shooting at Georgia's Apalachee High School

911 calls overwhelmed operators after shooting at Georgia's Apalachee High School

Students and parents walk off campus at Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga. A shooting at the Georgia high school Wednesday caused an unknown number of injuries and a suspect was arrested in a chaotic scene. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)