May 20 (UPI) -- Veteran second baseman Trevor Story smashed three home runs and recorded seven RBIs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 12-6 win over the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.
Story went 4 for 4 and took a walk to reach base five times in the victory Thursday in Boston. He also recorded a stolen base.
"It's special," Story told NESN in an on-field interview. "I have a lot of appreciation for nights like this [because] you just know how hard the game is."
The Mariners took a 4-0 lead off a three-run homer from shortstop Dylan Moore and an RBI double from first baseman Ty France in the top of the second.
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Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo singled off Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby to lead off the bottom of the inning. Story then stepped into the box for his first at-bat of the game.
The Red Sox infielder took a fastball for a ball to start the exchange. He hit the second pitch, an inside fastball, to dead center field for a 402-foot, two-run homer.
The Red Sox trailed 4-2 through the top of the third. Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right field. Story stepped in for his second plate appearance three at-bats later.
He watched two Kirby pitches miss the strike zone to take a lead in the count. He then smacked an 85.1-mph changeup deep to left field for a 403-foot, two-run homer.
Story gave the Red Sox a 5-4 lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Red Sox right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. plated another run with an RBI double in the same half-inning.
Mariners relief pitcher Wyatt Mills issued a walk and hit a batter with the pitch -- with the bases loaded -- to give the Red Sox two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Fellow Mariners reliever Danny Young then replaced Mills and walked Bradley in the next exchange to give Boston a 9-4 edge.
Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Strahm also issued a bases-loaded walk in the next half-inning, which cut the Mariners deficit to four.
The Red Sox then put two runners on base for Story in the bottom of the inning. The veteran infielder fell behind 1-2 in the count. He hit the fourth offering of that exchange to left field for a 358-foot, three-run homer.
Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez hit a 366-foot solo shot to left in the top of the ninth for the final run of the game.
Rodriguez went 3 for 5 in the loss. Martinez went 4 for 5 for the Red Sox. Verdugo recorded three hits in the victory. Red Sox starter Rich Hill allowed six hits and four runs in two innings, but was not on record for a decision.
Kirby allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings to take his first loss of the season for the Mariners.
Story raised his 2022 batting average from .205 to .230 with the 4 for 4 performance. He totaled five home runs, 23 RBIs and five stolen bases through his first 33 games this season.
The Red Sox (16-22) host the Mariners (17-22) at 7:10 p.m. EDT Friday at Fenway Park.
