All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Mariners, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Story's big night: Since he signed with the Red Sox in March, Red Sox fans have been waiting for a big breakout game from Trevor Story. On Thursday, he finally delivered. Story homered three times -- in the second, in the third and again in the eighth -- to drive in seven runs. It marked the 35th time in franchise history that a Sox player had belted three homers in the same game. He also became only the second player in team history to have three or more homers, knock in seven or more runs and score five or more runs. (Story reached base in every one of his five plate appearances, and each time, came around to score). It marked the 19th time in his career that he had enjoyed a multi-homer game and the second in which he went deep three times. Two of the homers went to left field, with the first one hit to straightaway center field, with two of them traveling over 400 feet.
Houck to the rescue: With starter Rich Hill rocked for four runs in the second inning, manager Alex Cora determined it wasn't the lefty's night and pulled him from the game, turning the ball over to Tanner Houck, who gave the Sox his best outing of the season -- four scoreless innings, during which he allowed just one hit and one walk while fanning six. Houck credited his terrific outing in part to a new grip for his slider. About five days ago, after conferring with teammate Austin Davis, Houck began experimenting with the grip, but Thursday represented the first time he had thrown it in a game. When Houck can command all three pitches, he becomes a unique weapon for the Sox, able to give them multiple innings in relief a few times a week -- not unlike the role held by Garrett Whitlock last season.
Balanced attack helps: For much of the season, what little success the Red Sox have had has come mostly from the hitting contributions from their Big Three -- Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. On Thursday night, Martinez had four hits, but Devers and Bogaerts had only one each, and none of the three knocked in a run. Instead, the Sox got help from previously slumping players like Alex Verdugo (three hits, four runs), Jackie Bradley Jr. (a wall-scraping double and a bases-loaded walk) and Bobby Dalbec (bases-loaded walk, single). Obviously, the 2-3-4 guys are going to carry the offense on most nights, but when they don't, the Sox have to learn how to score runs with the help of others. This is the second game on this homestand where the Sox have gotten plenty in the way of contributions from the lower third of the order.
TURNING POINT
Having spotted the Mariners a 4-0 head start, the Red Sox had to dig out from an early deficit. The first homer from Story sliced Seattle's lead in half, but it was the second that really let the Red Sox know that they were back in the game. After a leadoff single from J.D. Martinez, Seattle starting pitcher George Kirby retired the next two Sox hitters on flyouts and was an out away from getting out of the third with his team's lead intact. Instead, Story slammed a pitch over everything in left, measuring at over 400 feet The game was tied, but it was obvious that all the momentum now belonged to the Red Sox.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo had been in a three-week slump during which he was hitting just .145, but broke out in a big way with three hits, including two doubles. He also scored three times.
J.D. Martinez: After seeing his hitting streak snapped at 18 Wednesday night, Martinez started putting together a new one with a four-hit night -- three singles and a double.
TWO DOWN
Rich Hill: The veteran lefty was fine in the first inning, but the second was a nightmare as the Mariners batted around against him, scoring four times and forcing him to throw more than 40 pitches. It also ended his night prematurely.
Hirokazu Sawamura: Brought in for the eighth inning and handed a five-run lead, Sawamura couldn't last the inning. After retiring the first hitter he faced, he allowed two singles and a walk before being lifted.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Special night, one I'll never forget.'' Trevor Story on his three-homer night.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The four-run deficit the Sox erased was the biggest they've overcome this season.
* The Red Sox set season highs in hits, runs and home runs.
* Christian Vazquez has six RBI in his last eight games.
* Rafael Devers extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
* J.D. Martinez's four-hit game was the 13th of his career.
UP NEXT
In the second game of the teams' four-game series, the Red Sox will have RHP Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.38), fresh off the IL, making his return to the mound. He'll be opposed by 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (4-3, 4.62)