For eight innings Friday night, everything went well as Trevor Story and Corey Kluber began rehab assignments with the Portland Sea Dogs at a rainy Hadlock Field.
Then the Sea Dogs gave up four runs in the top of the ninth inning before a thunderstorm caused the game to be suspended with the score tied, 6-6. The game will resume at 5 p.m. Saturday.
A sellout crowd of 7,368 watched Story, Kluber and Boston Red Sox utilityman Pablo Reyes play against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The most anticipated performance was that of Story.
An offseason elbow injury required surgery in January, and Story, who will play shortstop for Boston when he returns after playing second base last season, has been working his way back since.
Friday’s game was Story’s first action since Sept. 11 last season against Baltimore.
“It’s been a long time coming. I feel like I put in a lot of work to get to this point. Still not done, but definitely a big step in the right direction,” Story said. “I felt like a kid out there again competing, and I’ve been looking forward to that for a long time.”
Story went 1 for 2 with a three-run homer in his third and final plate appearance. He also walked in the first inning and scored on Marcelo Mayer’s triple.
Playing shortstop, Story fielded both his chances and was the pivot on a double play in the top of the fifth. The first ball hit to Story came in the third inning with two outs. Story charged to his right and fired a strong throw on the run to first baseman Blaze Jordan for the third out.
“We’ve been doing a lot of trying to simulate game-like throws. That’s my bread and butter, kind of throwing on the run like that. Got two balls like that today to kind of break the ice,” Story said.
After playing six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season. He battled injuries and played in just 94 games last season, primarily at second base, hitting 16 home runs with 66 RBI and 53 runs scored. Story’s batting average of .238 and OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .737 were career lows.
When Xander Bogaerts signed with the San Diego Padres in the offseason, the plan was to move Story back to short, where he played in Colorado. Story’s elbow problem delayed that plan. Ideally, Story would like to get around 50 at-bats before joining the Red Sox. But with the team fighting for a wild-card playoff spot, that timeline could be accelerated.
“We’re kind of in the thick of a race right now. That could change things. When I feel comfortable timing-wise and all things included to go back, I will. Today was a good start,” Story said.
Kluber came on in relief of starting pitcher Joe Jones in the second inning and threw two scoreless innings. He struck out one and allowed one hit, a slow ground ball off the bat of Steward Berroa that second baseman Chase Meidroth corralled in short right field.
“I thought it was a good first step,” Kluber said. “More than anything, it’s getting things feeling well and being able to go out there and move the way I like to move.”
Kluber signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Boston in January. A two-time American League Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, Kluber went on the IL on June 21 because of right shoulder inflammation. In 15 games before then, including nine starts, Kluber’s ERA was 7.04. He surrendered 17 home runs in 55 innings, and opponents hit .297.
Kluber said he felt no pain or discomfort in his shoulder Friday, and he didn’t pay attention to his velocity, which reached the mid to upper 80s. He’ll learn the next step of his rehab tomorrow, and he’s not sure what his role will be when he returns to Boston.
“That’s getting ahead of ourselves at this point. I’m just trying to get back to being healthy and trying to be a part of the team and contribute,” Kluber said.
Traded to Boston from Oakland on May 12, Reyes has played in 27 games for the Red Sox, hitting .303 with nine RBI. He went on the IL on June 23 because of an abdominal strain. Reyes hit leadoff for Portland on Friday and started in center field. He was 1 for 4 with a run scored when the game was delayed.
Story is expected to serve as the designated hitter on Saturday, and play another five innings at shortstop on Sunday. To accommodate Story playing short, Mayer made his first career start at third base.
“I was in middle school when Story was with the Rockies hitting bombs. He’s been around. It’s really cool to see how he goes about his business,” Mayer said.
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