Red Sox’ Marcelo Mayer jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo during the second inning Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)AP
SEATTLE — Rookie Marcelo Mayer bashed his fourth homer in the Red Sox’ 3-1 win over the Mariners here at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday.
But it wasn’t Mayer’s home run swing that reminded Trevor Story of one of his former All-Star teammates in Colorado.
It was a throw that Mayer — a natural shortstop who has been playing third base with Alex Bregman injured — made across the diamond in the fourth inning that got Randy Arozarena by a half step at first base.
“I was thinking it there in the last inning that his baseball clock reminds me of like Nolan Arenado,” Story said. “Getting a guy by a half step even though he can get rid of it quick. But he just has that good baseball instinct. He’s smooth out there, making every play that you need to make — backhand, forehand, tough in-between hoppers. … It’s been fun to watch. And he’s swinging the bat really well, too. He got us going today.”
Story added about the throw to get Arozarena, “He took kind of the two shuffles but puts just enough on it to get him by a half step.”
After fielding a ball to his right, Mayer also made a long, strong throw to first base to get Cal Raleigh to end the eighth inning.
Story and Arenado combined for 44 defensive runs saved in 2019. Arenado, an eight-time All-Star who won the NL Gold Glove at third base 10 straight years (2013-22), had 23 defensive runs saved that season while Story had 21.
“That’s a pretty good compliment considering he’s one of the best third baseman of all-time,” Mayer said about Story mentioning him in the same breath as Arenado. “I know Trevor played with him for a long time. So for him to say that, I really appreciate it.”
Manager Alex Cora said Mayer came in for early work Tuesday.
“Very specific with what he wanted to do, accomplish in his training,” Cora said. “Just a few things he felt he wasn’t doing earlier.”
“The beauty of baseball is there’s always things to work on,” Mayer said.
Mayer explained what he did during his early work.
“Try to get back to my base of doing what I do really well, which is staying through the baseball,” Mayer said. “So I came in early, worked with some of the hitting coaches and I’ve felt really good since.”