Red Sox recap: Trevor Story hits 2 three-run homers as Sox blow out White Sox 10-3

The Red Sox slugged their way to victory on Friday, belting four homers en route to a 10-3 win over the White Sox in front of 35,620 fans at Fenway Park.

The offense exploded in the series opener with Chicago, led by Trevor Story (3-for-4), who hit two three-run homers and drove in six RBI.

Overall, Story is now batting .321 with five home runs, 14 RBI, six stolen bases, and a .876 OPS through his first 21 games.

“I feel good up there,” Story said after the game to reporters. “I feel like myself.”

His first homer came in the first inning; with two runners on, he demolished the first pitch he saw to center field for a three-run homer off southpaw Martin Perez.

His second home run was also a three-run shot and came in the seventh inning.

“When he’s healthy he’s 30-30, he’s really good,” Alex Cora said, referring to a 30 home run and 30 stolen base season. “We haven’t seen the healthy version of Trevor Story, my job is to keep him on the field and I’ll do my best. Obviously last year that was a freak accident, but when he plays he produces, and so far it’s been fun to watch.”

Story saw just 11 pitches over four at-bats on Friday night and homered twice for just the second time since joining the Red Sox in 2022 after 19 multi-homer games over six seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

The Sox shortstop had everything clicking offensively and it led to him cashing in with runners in scoring position. 

“It’s big, man,” Story said on the NESN telecast after the game. “Any time you come up with runners on base, you want to come through for the boys. Really just trying to keep it simple. Get a pitch I can handle. Took care of the mistakes tonight. I like that.” 

OFFENSE CLICKED

Story wasn’t the only player with a big night offensively. Rob Refsnyder started in right field in place of Wilyer Abreu and went 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Carlos Narváez went 2-for-4 with his first home run of his career, sending a 353-foot blast to left-center in the eighth inning.

Ceddanne Rafaela also joined the home run parade, hitting his first of the season in the Green Monster seats. He entered play on Friday with just one extra-base hit (a triple) in 62 plate appearances (and 12 strikeouts).

Rafaela mashed a 105.2 mph missile off Penn Murfee for a two-run homer in the fourth inning. His homer comes at a key time, with Roman Anthony hitting everything in sight for the WooSox. Rafaela’s limited offensive output could lead to Anthony’s promotion and playing time in center field.

Boston's offense hit the ball hard, particularly in the first inning with the wind whipping around. They hit five baseballs at 102.1 mph or harder in that inning, which includes Devers' ground rule double into the triangle and Story’s first three-run shot to put the Sox on the scoreboard.

The Red Sox have now scored at least six runs in two of their last three games. After Story’s massive offensive output on Friday night, he looks locked in at the plate.

With the White Sox starting the lefty, Perez, both Abreu and Triston Casas were on the bench in favor of Refsnyder, who mashes southpaws, and Romy Gonzalez, who started at first base.

Both lefties have been platooning for the most part against left-handed starters. Cora was adamant in the spring that Casas would play against lefties and avoid platooning him and Gonzalez. Since the start of the season, he’s done just the opposite.

Boston has faced a lefty four times since the start of the season, and Casas has sat each time. The slugger has gotten seven at-bats this season against lefties, going 5-for-7 (.714) with two doubles and a homer. Abreu is 1-for-6 with two strikeouts and two walks against left-handed pitching.

Cora told reporters on Friday night that he needs to find playing time for both Refsnyder and Gonzalez.

“That’s the reason (Gonzalez and Refsnyder playing), but during games they have started, they have faced lefties in the middle of the game,” Cora said. “It doesn’t have to be starts. It’s facing them and facing relievers during games.”

The Sox skipper also mentioned that the different start times all weekend are also a factor in his decision for his lineup.

“It’s a tough weekend. We play at 7, at 4, at 1 and 11. Everybody’s going to be part of it. We feel like this lineup against Martín today is a good one.”

Alex Bregman, who returned to the team after being placed on the paternity list to be with his wife for the birth of their son, went 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.

Boston had 11 hits in their offensive onslaught on Friday night, with everyone collecting at least one hit with the exception of Kristian Campbell (0-for-3) and Gonzalez (0-for-4). Campbell has gone hitless in the last two games, going 0-for-8.

SECOND BIG LEAGUE START

Hunter Dobbins had another impressive start and is making a strong case that he should remain in Boston.

In just his second big league start, the right-hander worked quickly and efficiently, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings while striking out six batters.

The rookie retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced — the lone baserunner came after Story dropped a pop fly in left field early in the game.

Dobbins didn’t walk a batter and threw 79 pitches in his outing, 55 for strikes, and had 11 swings and misses. His fastball topped out at 96.8 mph, according to Statcast.

He is the first Red Sox pitcher to win his first two career starts since Tanner Houck won three in a row in 2020.

“I really wanted to attack the zone today, we found the fastball was getting weak contact and I was able to get ahead in counts with it. It wasn’t really the game plan but that’s how the game went today so we just kind of went with it,” Dobbins said.

“I try to work fast,” the righty added. “I’ve found that I pound the zone a lot better when I’m that fast tempo, takes the pitch clock out of it and having to worry about that and think about it. I like to get the ball and throw it as quickly as I can."

Former Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi put the White Sox on the board in the fourth with a solo homer to right field. He was 1-for-3 with the homer and had scored two runs.

Dobbins has now posted a 3.27 ERA for the Red Sox through his first two career starts. 

Following his start on Friday night, Boston will option him back to Triple-A Worcester and activate right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks off the injured list. 

Brennan Bernardino pitched a perfect seventh inning of relief, and Josh Winckowski allowed a run in the ninth and worked two innings in the Sox’ win.

Boston has put together a three-game winning streak and is above .500 at 11-10 and is two games above .500 at home.

Garrett Crochet (2-1, 1.38 ERA) will take the ball for the Sox on Saturday, just a week after he flirted with a no-hitter against his former team on the road in Chicago. Shane Smith (0-1, 2.04 ERA), a native of Danvers, will oppose him, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.