The Boston Red Sox were unable to complete a sweep of the division rival Toronto Blue Jays after losing their game on Thursday, but their playoff hopes remain alive and well.
With just one more regular season series to go, the Red Sox hold a wild card spot and have a chance to clinch at Fenway Park this weekend. But if they do make the playoffs, they will have to hope a star veteran can tighten up a concerning trend.
“Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story’s fifth throwing error in the past seven games proved costly,” MassLive’s Christopher Smith wrote after an errant throw kept an inning going against the Blue Jays on Thursday. “Story has made six errors in the past seven games. Five have come on throws to first base.”
Overall, Story has enjoyed a resurgent season for the Red Sox. He has slashed .267/.312/.439 and played in 155 games, his highest total in the last seven years.
But his sudden lapse is happening at an unfortunate time, as defensive accountability becomes paramount in the playoffs. When asked about Story’s latest error as his throwing issues suddenly grow, Red Sox manager Alex Cora offered a three-word response.
“Out of rhythm,” Cora said, per Smith.
After the game, Story emphasized that his issues aren’t linked to any physical problem with his arm. Instead, he identified the problem as one of maintaining his focus at this point in the season.
“It’s really not finishing the play,” Story said, according to Smith. “So it’s on me. I gotta be obviously very diligent about finishing the throw. That’s where it’s come from.”
With a playoff series in reach and defensive plays becoming more important than ever, the Red Sox have to hope Story can find his rhythm and his diligence going forward.
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