by The Red Sox defeated the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Friday night despite failing to record a hit until the fifth inning and failing to score a run until the sixth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Boston’s top hitter loaded the bases, setting the stage for Trevor Story to hit a walk-off single. Since their May 16 debut, the Red Sox have won five straight games in their Green Monster City Connect uniforms, including Friday’s walk-off victory (5-3 overall record).
Listen to Fenway Park erupt as Roman Anthony reaches home plate and see Story’s winning base hit:
This is the tenth walk-off W. True Story!yfbZPsTI5p pic.twitter.com/
The victory gave the team a 40-22 overall record and their 40th victory at Fenway this season. Leading MLB, ten of them have arrived in walk-off fashion.
Story stated after the game that he wasn’t attempting to accomplish much in his last at-bat. He knew he just had to put the ball in play in a tie game with the bases loaded and no outs.
avoiding taking on too much. On the field just after the game, Story told NESN’s Jahmai Webster, “Take what he gives me and just hit something hard.”
In that ninth inning, Story gave gratitude to his teammates who came before him.Alex Bregman followed in Roman Anthony’s footsteps and drew a walk. Then Story came up to the plate after Miami bullpen pitcher Josh Simpson’s terrible outing was ended by a pitch to Jarren Duran.
“Those guys at the top of the lineup, man, they get it going for us,” Story remarked. Amazing at-bats from Roman [Anthony]. He’s going for a walk even though he’s not getting hit. Then, Alex Bregman, AB, is always assembling something sturdy. It’s our responsibility to bring them in after you watch their at-bats and those guys get it started for us.
Trevor Story is aware of the significance of these victories at this time.”At the moment, wins are huge. It makes no difference how we obtain them.MoGh6fBYTR pic.twitter.com/
However, Friday’s battle didn’t start off well in the first half. For four innings, Sandy Alcantara, the starting pitcher for the Marlins, kept the Red Sox from getting to base in any way. In actuality, Miami’s lineup scored nine hits over the evening, while Boston’s only managed three (two from Story and one from Bregman).
Story praised Alcantara’s outstanding performance, which included seven strikeouts, two hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, and six innings pitched. Story’s single and Bregman’s game-winning RBI double in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, were the only knocks Alcantara let up.
He had terrific stuff tonight, facing Sandy. “Man, I just had to fight,” Story said. [Lucas] Gio[lito] did a fantastic job of keeping us in the game and kept it close the entire night. Wins are huge right now, and we’re just trying to scrape it out however we can. It makes no difference how we obtain them.
Despite giving up seven hits and one earned run, Red Sox starter Giolito held Miami at bay, allowing his teammates to work their magic in the ninth inning. The right-hander pitched six innings with five strikeouts, one earned run, one walk, and seven hits.
Kyle Stowers, a left fielder for the Marlins, doubled for the only run Giolito gave up.
After a rough start to the season and starting it on the injured list, Boston manager Alex Cora commended Giolito for his outstanding recent starts.
After the game, Cora remarked, “That’s the guy we imagined.” He was a little injured throughout spring training this year, so it took him some time to get going, as we obviously experienced last year. He’s giving us innings, though. His age is six-seven. I know he’s having fun because he’s a guy who’s been there and done that.
Story and Cora both gave credit to Fenway’s electrifying crowd, which Cora claimed had helped the Red Sox win a number of games in recent months.
Here, they have an impact. The Boston supporters in attendance were vociferous throughout the game, even when the team was unable to get on base, and Cora said, “It’s getting louder and louder.” I always make jokes, but that’s what we need. We require it. The opposition should feel uneasy around Fenway Park, and they’ve been doing a decent job lately, in my opinion.
Story added, “We didn’t give them much to get going about,” at the Fenway fans on Friday. As is customary, they delivered it tonight, dude. We are aware that the opposing team feels the same way you do in the ninth.
The Red Sox have a 15-2 record in their previous 17 home games, maybe thanks to some support from their supporters. For a team that has had trouble in the field, on the mound, and at the plate at Fenway over the past few years, it’s an astounding statistic.
Boston’s victory on Friday raised their season record to 67-56. They currently hold the AL’s second wild card berth and are five games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings.
In Saturday’s Game 2, the Red Sox aim to win the weekend series. Boston will start Brayan Bello against Cal Quantrill of Miami. At 4:10 p.m., the first pitch is scheduled.
Boston.com sports producer Kaley Brown covers the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Patriots, and Boston Red Sox.
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