Jhoan Duran’s All-Star Game entrance did not go to plan
Watch Jhoan Duran enter the All-Star Game at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.
PHILADELPHIA – Jhoan Duran has entered 32 games at Citizens Bank Park since the Philadelphia Phillies acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Twins at last year’s trade deadline.
Much like the rest of July 14’s All-Star Game, the entrance this time was a little off kilter.
By now the choreography is familiar to Phillies fans. The lights come down, the bell sounds and Duran begins a trot from the bullpen to Farruko’s “El Incomprendido.” Then “Hot” by Daddy Yankee and Pitbull gets mixed in and spider animations crawl through the video boards around the park.
But at the 96th All-Star Game, the music didn’t start when it was supposed to, the leaving the stadium silent as Duran jogged to the mound. It eventually kicked in as he threw a few warm-up pitches.
Duran received an ovation although many fans had already left.
San Diego Padres’ closer Mason Miller entered the ninth inning first with the National League trailing the American League 4-0. Duran started warming up once Miller started to trot onto the field.
Miller struck out Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Duran recorded the next two outs after allowing a single to Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena.
Duran had at least a half dozen cleats with flames to fit the theme in his locker before the game. Another was delivered about four hours before game time.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien, a first-time All-Star, said before the game he would be excited to see Duran’s entrance from the dugout. When he enters games at home, the Cardinals bring down the lights, but O’Brien said it’s more for the fans than for him.
“By that time, I’m pretty focused on the game and what I need to do so I try not to think about it too much,” O’Brien said.
Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at [email protected].
