Trevor Story after 3-homer game for Boston Red Sox: ‘Just a special night and one I’ll never forget’

BOSTON — “Just a special night and one I’ll never forget.”

That’s how Trevor Story described his three-homer game Thursday. He led the Red Sox to a 12-6 comeback victory over the Mariners here at Fenway Park.

“He will hit. We know that,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He’s feeling comfortable in the environment. It’s just a matter of time and today was outstanding.”

Story did it all after Boston fell behind 4-0. He crushed a 402-foot two-run homer to cut the deficit to 4-2 in the second inning. He tied it with a 403-foot two-run home run over the Green Monster in the third.

He singled, stole a base and scored during a two-run sixth inning that put Boston ahead 6-4.

His third homer — a three-run shot that traveled 358 feet over the Monster — gave Boston a 12-5 lead in the eighth.

He went 4-for-4 with three homers, seven RBIs, five runs, one walk and one stolen base.

“Special. Great atmosphere. Unbelievable place to play every night,” he said about Fenway. “So to be able to do it here is something I’ll remember forever.”

Cora said Story is an old-school baseball player.

“Like you go 0-for-4 and you go to the cage and you stay there for an hour, an hour and a half,” Cora said. “He’s done it a few times. And other guys have done it following his lead.”

Story — who spent an hour in the cage after his four-strikeout game against Shohei Ohtani on May 5 — said he tries not to focus on his stats. That seems easier said than done after he signed a six-year, $140-million contract and started out as slow as he did.

“I really just focus on the process and the preparation,” Story said. “Go out there and we play and whatever happens, we’ll look up at the end of the season and the numbers will be where they’re at. But especially on a daily basis, I’m not looking at the scoreboard.”

The numbers certainly took a major jump here Thursday.

Story entered the game batting .205 with a .293 on-base percentage, .320 slugging percentage and .613 OPS.

He’s now slashing .230/.317/.413/.730. And so his OBP increased 24 points, his slugging percentage jumped 93 points and his OPS increased 117 points.

He said he has tried to be more balanced and on time. He’s not trying to do too much.

“Baseball is the most challenging sport in the world,” Story said. “I feel like on an everyday basis, you’re going to be challenged, especially here. It’s something that I take a lot of pride in, trying to be very even-keeled about it all. I just believe that the hard work pays off eventually. But yeah, it’s always very challenging.”

Cora said he told Story a couple weeks ago, “Hey, man. Be you.”

“AC’s been great,” Story said. “He’s such a player’s manager. Communication. Doors wide open. Talk to him about anything, how you’re feeling good or bad. He’s got a lot of experience and I’m just happy he’s the guy. He’s been great for me.”

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