Red Sox’ Trevor Story notches walk-off hit to defeat Marlins in comeback fashion, 2-1
Boston improved to 40-22 at Fenway Park this season.
The Red Sox couldn’t secure a hit until the fifth inning and didn’t plate a run until the sixth, but they managed to walk off the Miami Marlins in a 2-1 comeback victory on Friday night.
The top of Boston’s lineup loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth to lead the way for Trevor Story to notch a walk-off single. Friday’s walk-off win marked the Red Sox’ fifth such victory while wearing their Green Monster City Connect uniforms since their debut on May 16 (5-3 overall record).
Watch Story’s winning base hit and listen to Fenway Park erupt as Roman Anthony crosses home plate:
The win marked the club’s 40th win at Fenway this season, good for a 40-22 overall record. Ten of them have come in walk-off fashion, which leads MLB.
After the game, Story said he wasn’t trying to do much in that final at-bat. With the bases loaded, no outs, and in a tie ballgame, he knew he simply needed to put the ball in play.
“Not trying to do too much. Take what he gives me and just hit something hard,” Story told NESN’s Jahmai Webster on the field immediately after the game.
Story credited his teammates who came before him in that ninth inning. Roman Anthony led it off and drew a walk, as did Alex Bregman after him. Then, Jarren Duran was hit by a pitch to cap off Miami relief pitcher Josh Simpson’s nightmare outing and bring Story up to the plate.
“Those guys get it going for us, man, those dudes at the top of the lineup,” Story said. “Roman [Anthony], having amazing at-bats. Even if he’s not getting a hit, he’s taking a walk … Then, AB (Alex Bregman) is always putting something solid together. You watch their at-bats and those guys get it started for us, it’s our job to bring them in.”
The first half of Friday’s contest was anything but promising, though. Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara prevented the Red Sox from reaching base in any form through four innings. In fact, Boston’s lineup collected three total hits all night (two from Story, one from Bregman) compared to Miami’s nine.
Story acknowledged Alcantara’s terrific outing, which consisted of six innings, two hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. The only knocks Alcantara allowed came in the fifth and sixth innings: a single by Story and a game-tying RBI double by Bregman, respectively.
“Facing Sandy, he had good stuff tonight. Just had to battle, man,” Story said. “[Lucas] Gio[lito] kept it close all night, he did a great job with keeping us in the game. Just trying to scrap it out however we can, and wins are huge at this moment. Doesn’t matter how we get ‘em.”
Giolito, the Red Sox starter, allowed seven hits and one earned run, but he kept Miami at bay, paving the way for his teammates to create magic in the ninth inning. The right-handed hurler tossed 6 ⅓ innings on seven hits, one earned run, one walk, and five strikeouts.
The lone run Giolito allowed was a RBI double by Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers.
Boston manager Alex Cora praised Giolito for his impressive recent starts after a shaky start to the year and beginning it on the injured list.
“That’s the guy we envisioned,” Cora said postgame. “Obviously, we had last year, he was a little banged up in spring training (this year), it took him a while to get going. But he’s giving us innings. He’s going six, seven. … He’s a guy that’s been there, done that – I know he’s having fun.”
Both Cora and Story credited Fenway’s electric crowd, which Cora has said in recent months has helped propel the Red Sox to several victories.
“They make a difference here. It’s getting louder and louder,” Cora said of Boston fans in attendance, who were vocal the entire game, even when the club couldn’t get on base. “I always joke around, but we need that. We need it. This is Fenway Park and it should be uncomfortable to the opposition, and I think they’re doing a good job lately.”
“We didn’t give them much to get going about,” Story also said of Friday’s Fenway crowd. “They brought it tonight, man, like they usually do. You really feel it in the ninth and we know the other team does, too.”
Perhaps with a little help from their fans, the Red Sox own a 15-2 record in their last 17 home games. It’s an impressive statistic for a team that has struggled to perform well at the plate, on the mound, and in the field at Fenway over the last few years.
With Friday’s win, Boston improved to 67-56 on the year. They’re five games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings and hold the AL’s second wild card spot.
The Red Sox look to take the weekend series in Game 2 on Saturday. Brayan Bello is scheduled to start for Boston against Miami’s Cal Quantrill. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m.
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