Story dazzles with diving stop, 2nd-deck tank

September 12th, 2021

made a pair of vintage plays in Saturday night's 6-1 loss to the Phillies -- and each brought the Rockies shortstop to the ground at Citizens Bank Park.

First, Story made an incredible diving stop up the middle in the first inning that required him to then make a throw from his backside to retire Phils second baseman Jean Segura. Five innings later, Story crushed a no-doubt home run into the upper deck on a swing that left his back knee in the dirt -- and his bat flipping end-over-end toward Colorado’s dugout.

“Ended up on one knee, but that shows the power that Trev has -- I think that went in the upper deck in left,” manager Bud Black said. “That was a bomb. That was a good swing.”

While the homer was impressive in its own right, it was the first-inning defensive play that still had both sides buzzing after the game.

“That was an outstanding play in the first -- what a great play,” Black said. “That ball was smoked. Makes the play, then from his seat had enough on the throw to get the runner. Great play.”

“It was a pretty darn good play. Obviously, he’s a really good player,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi added. “He’s hurt us with some hits, some home runs, some triples -- he’s showcased his game here. That’s a pretty good play. You don’t see a guy throw from the seat of his pants too often.”

Even Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, who has certainly seen his share of highlight-reel plays from Story over their five seasons as teammates, was in awe of Story’s latest gem.

“Story did his thing, making an incredible play out there. I love having him behind me making plays like that,” Freeland said. “That was definitely probably one of the best ones he's ever made.”

Unfortunately for the Rockies, it wasn't enough on a night when their bats otherwise fell silent and Freeland struggled with his command. Freeland allowed four runs on five hits and four walks while grinding his way through six innings.

After keeping pace with NL Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler through three scoreless frames, Freeland issued three walks -- including a four-pitch free pass with the bases loaded -- as part of a three-run fourth. While the first run scored on the bases-loaded walk, the next two came home on a two-out two-run bunt double -- yes, bunt double -- by Odúbel Herrera. With the Rockies in a bit of a shift, Herrera pushed a bunt up the third-base line that got under the hand of a charging Ryan McMahon and rolled into shallow left field.

“Mac tried to make a do-or-die play and it got behind him, and obviously we were in a little bit of a shift, so they were able to score two runs,” Black said. “Very unique outcome to a very unique play.”

Wheeler, meanwhile, held the Rockies at bay until Story's 441-foot homer into the second deck in left field in the sixth inning. It was Story's second home run in as many nights -- and his fifth in the last 12 games following his 0-for-24 skid last month. He’s hitting .304 since snapping out of that funk.

“I think it's just a little bit more selectivity and not fouling off pitches that he's getting in the strike zone to hit,” Black said. “I think that's been the big reason for a little bit of a resurgence here and hitting for power. He's barreling up some balls in the strike zone or at the bottom of the zone. I think when he was in that little bit of a funk, there was a little bit of an expansion of the strike zone, both up and away from him.”