BALTIMORE — Shortstop Trevor Story made a diving play in the fifth inning that saved two runs from scoring.
The Red Sox were playing the infield in with one out and runners at second and third base. Story dived to his left to catch a line drive off Orioles No. 5 hitter Ryan Mountcastle’s bat, then fired to third base to double off Jackson Holliday and keep the game tied at 2-2.
“It was sick,” starting pitcher Garrett Crochet said. “I was joking when he was coming in. It’s ‘The Trevor Story Game’ today. Because there in the ninth, too, he made another great play.”
Story also homered, leading the Red Sox to a 3-2 win over Baltimore at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday. Boston swept the four-game series and finished the road trip 7-1.
“I think you can always just count on him to make the high IQ play that needs to be made,” Crochet said. “Always very locked into the game and we’ve seen it here all season on defense.”
Story said that diving play is all about anticipation.
“Almost treating it like a third baseman, like the hot corner,” Story said. “Gotta get low even a little earlier because he might hit a shot at me. And so I kind of treat it like I would play third base in the minor leagues. Just be ready for that one and then anything slower is a little easier to play.”
What does Story — who played 73 games in the minors — think about Crochet naming the win “The Trevor Story Game”?
“I think every time he pitches, it’s ‘The Garrett Crochet Game,’” Story said, smiling. “So, yeah. It’s cool, man. We have a good vibe right now, and guys are obviously rooting for each other and it’s a tight-knit group. And I think I’ve said that all along. And you can tell by the way this team just kind of interacts with each other.”
Manager Alex Cora called Story’s diving double play “the game-changer.”
Romy Gonzalez agreed with both Cora and Crochet.
“I would second that. Definitely sick and a game-changer,” Gonzalez said. “And the play, too, in the last inning, getting the lead runner at third. It was huge for us.”
Steven Matz — filling in at closer for Aroldis Chapman who was unavailable — allowed a leadoff double to Dylan Carlson in the ninth. But Story made a heads-up play two pitches later on Alex Jackson’s hard grounder (101.8 mph off the bat) to shortstop. Story fielded and threw out Carlson trying to reach third base.
“(Jackson) obviously flashed the bunt on the first pitch and then I thought maybe he might take a swing on that one,” Story said. “So I wasn’t as close holding the runner on at second and he hit kind of a hot shot at me. It was kind of a tough read for the baserunner, but obviously he went. I felt like it was time to get that guy at third because he hit it so hard. I thought I had enough time.”
Third baseman Alex Bregman also made a nice play, catching the ball to his left and then moving back to swipe the tag on Carlson.
“We know that they’re trying to get that runner to third,” Story said. “And usually we’re always talking about, if it’s hit hard at me, I’ll take a peek and see if we can make a play. And he was ready for it and made a great tag. I had to throw it a little wide because the runner was going wide, but he made a good play.”
Cora said about the ninth-inning play, “It’s one of those that you have to think ahead. …. They are thinking together. They think ahead of the game and that side of the infield is really good.”
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