Red Sox Notes: Trevor Story Looking Like Star Boston ‘Envisioned’

The Boston Red Sox were patient and they finally got the full version of Trevor Story they were looking for Wednesday night.

Story’s fingerprints were all over Boston’s 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The veteran shortstop, who missed nearly five months due to a shoulder injury before returning less than two weeks ago, sparked the win by belting a key solo home run and also came through with two stolen bases in the top of the eighth inning to put him in better position to score the decisive run on a Jarren Duran single.

“The homer, the stolen bases, that’s the player we envisioned,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. “We just got to keep it out on the field.”

Story showed flashes of his two-time All-Star self since he returned on Sept. 7. He had a hit in each of his first three games and put together a three-hit performance in Boston’s only win this past weekend in the Bronx.

His swing looks better than it did when he returned at the end of last season and struggled to catch up to fastballs. That was evident Wednesday when Story barreled up the first pitch of the sixth inning from Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, who dominated the Red Sox by striking out 12 and threw an immaculate inning in the fifth, and belted it into the left field seats to level the game at 1-1.

“I feel like with each day, with each week it gets better,” Story told reporters. “It’s exciting. I feel like I’m in a good spot in the box, just trying to hit line drives and keep it simple. Feeling pretty good. I know I need a little bit more strength to feel like my total self, but I’m happy where I’m at.”

The Red Sox aren’t just getting a productive bat from Story. He solidified Boston’s infield with his smooth playmaking ability at shortstop. And the Red Sox are starting to tap in to his speed on the basepaths, too.

And when Story has all three areas going as he did against the Rays, he’s a true difference-maker.

“There’s not too many like that,” Cora said. “And if you start looking at the defensive numbers, they’re getting up there and that’s what we envisioned. Obviously, it didn’t happen (for a full season). But the total package. Swing-wise, a lot different than last year. At this time last year he was swinging and missing a lot, now he’s hitting the ball the other way, obviously driving the ball the last few days. So, he’s in a good spot.

“Like I said when we got him, whatever we get offensively we’ll take it, but I’ll take the athlete any day of the week.”

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Here are more notes from Wednesday’s Red Sox-Rays game:

— It looked like a pretty routine bottom of the ninth for Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, until it wasn’t. Jansen got the first two outs of the frame before laboring through the rest of the inning as he clearly was bothered by a shoulder issue. The right-hander walked two straight batters, both of which moved into scoring position via steals, but Jansen got out of the jam by punching out Logan Driscoll to end the game.

“He’s been dealing with some shoulder stuff and it felt like he was kind of like favoring it, or whatever you want to call it,” Cora said. “I checked with him and he’s like, ‘I’m good to go.’ So, we’ll know more tonight or tomorrow and we’ll see where we’re at.”

— Tanner Houck made his first appearance on the mound in two weeks after he had two starts pushed back due to right shoulder fatigue. The Red Sox kept Houck on a pitch count — he threw 60 pitches — but he was still effective, tossing four innings in which he allowed one run on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

“Felt good. Felt strong,” Houck told reporters. “Just the little bit of rest, a little bit longer than what I originally wanted it to be, what we all kind of wanted it to be, but do it the smart way. Take care of it the first time and then finish the year strong. Tonight pitch count, but ultimately I’m pretty happy with the outing in terms of how I pounded the zone, went right after the guys. Felt strong in terms of the shoulder. So all in all, take the small victories when you can.”

— The top of the Red Sox order has struggled mightily in the two games against the Rays. The one through five hitters in the lineup have gone a combined 3-for-39 with 16 strikeouts. Rafael Devers, who clearly isn’t playing at 100%, has had a rough show showing for Red Sox against the Rays as the left-handed slugger is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in the series.

— The Red Sox had an opening in their rotation for the series finale against the Rays. Cora said Bello will take that spot and that Richard Fitts “most likely” will start an all-important three-game series Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.

— The Red Sox wrap up a seven-game road trip and conclude their three-game series with the Rays on Thursday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET and you can watch complete coverage of the game on NESN.