Story hits slam to lead Red Sox
Blast kicked off scoring and was caught by former Red Sox outfielder Gomes
Trevor Story hit a grand slam over the Green Monster — and into the hands of a former Red Sox player — a night after hitting three over Fenway Park’s fabled left-field wall, leading Boston to a 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
Story connected on a thigh-high 1-2 slider off Robbie Ray (4-4), driving it into the first row of seats to give Boston a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Former Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, a member of Boston’s 2013 World Series champions, was seated atop the Monster. He moved a few steps to his right and caught Story’s slam against his body, highfiving the person next to him with a big smile.
“I’m going to make Trevor sign it and take it home,” the 41-year-old Gomes said with the ball sitting on a tabletop in front of him.
Along with going deep three times in Boston’s victory in the opener of a four-game series Thursday, Story had four hits and drove in seven runs.
Jackie Bradley Jr. added a threerun shot for the Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in 10 games following a season-high five-game losing streak.
Austin Davis (1-1) relieved starter Michael Wacha with two on and two outs in the fifth, striking out J.P. Crawford before working a perfect sixth for the victory.
Reinstated from the 15-day injured list before the game, Wacha gave up two runs and four hits in 42⁄3 innings, walking three with three strikeouts. He was sidelined
with soreness in his left side.
Abraham Toro hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who have dropped four of five.
Trainer’s room Mariners:
RHP Matthew Festa (right elbow tendinitis) was reinstated from the IL and RHP Wyatt Mills was sent to Triple-a Tacoma.
Red Sox: To make room for Wacha, RHP Ryan Brasier was optioned to Triple-a Worcester. “It’s not an easy decision with what he means to us,” manager Alex Cora said.