BOSTON — Trevor Story slammed a grand slam over the Green Monster — and into the hands of a former Red Sox player — one night after hitting three homers over Fenway Park’s fabled left field wall, giving Boston a 7-3 Victory over the Seattle Mariners led Friday night.
The story ended with a thigh-high 1-2 shift from Robbie Ray (4-4) that propelled him into the front row to give Boston a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Former Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, a member of the 2013 Boston World Series champion, sat on the monster. He moved a few steps to the right and caught Story’s slam against his body, high fives to the person next to him with a big smile. He also lifted his shirt in celebration.
Story didn’t know it was Gomes until after the game.
“I saw like a clip of it, and I saw Gomes going crazy,” Story said. “I thought that was cool, man. This is something special. I will never forget that.”
Originally, when interviewed by The Associated Press about the monster during the game, Gomes said he would keep it.
Former Red Sox star Jonny Gomes celebrates after catching Trevor Story’s grand slam (right) in the third inning of the Red Sox’s 7-3 win over the Mariners. @RedSox/Twitter; AP
“I’m going to get Trevor to sign it and take it home,” Gomes, 41, said while the ball lay on a tabletop in front of him.
But he chatted with Story afterwards and the pair had an idea.
“I just had it signed for me,” Story said. “My first Grand Slam as a Red Sox, I thought that was something very special. It was a really cool moment. I had him sign the other side.”
Story knew Gomes wanted it but changed his mind.
“I think he wanted to keep it at first,” Story said. “I said, ‘I’d love it if you signed it, and I kept it because it was the first one.'”
Gomes came in after the game and put the ball in Story’s locker.
In addition to Boston’s three-time win in Thursday’s opener of a four-game streak, Story had four hits and drove in seven runs.
“Obviously, Trevor Story was pretty damn hot,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “He got his season underway. Unfortunately that has happened in the last few days.”
Jackie Bradley Jr. added a three-run shot for the Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in ten games after a five-game losing streak in their highest season.
Austin Davis (1-1) broke starter Michael Wacha with two ons and two outs in the fifth, beating JP Crawford before working to victory as a perfect sixth.
Reinstated from the 15-day pre-game injury list, Wacha gave up two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings and went three with three strikeouts. He was sidelined with pain in his left side.
“I wasn’t expecting to see him up there in the stands,” Wacha said of Gomes’ catch. “I saw him in the dugout before the game. You feel like you show up at the stadium every day and see something you’ve never seen before. That was definitely it today.”
Abraham Toro hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who lost four of five.