Red Sox shuffle lineup, drop struggling Trevor Story to fifth

BOSTON — With his Red Sox team having lost seven of its previous eight games and his offense ranked 27th in runs scored, manager Alex Cora rearranged his batting order for Monday’s game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Trevor Story, (.119, 17 strikeouts in 42 at-bats) who had hit second in each of the team’s first nine games, was moved to fifth in the order with Masataka Yoshida elevated to Story’s second spot.

“We’ll see if it works,” said Cora. “Just mix it up. Hopefully, a different spot allows you to unlock it and relax...Regardless of where we hit, we’ve got to make sure we slow it down. We’ve been talking about swinging a lot, not chasing. This (Brewers team) is a good pitching staff and they’re very aggressive in the zone. Hopefully, be on time and put good swings on it.”

Cora said he was motivated to introduce the change based on Sunday’s game. Story had an infield hit in five plate appearances with two strikeouts while Yoshida was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

“Six walks already and he’s been able to pull the ball, hit the ball hard,” said Cora of Yoshida. “He’s in a great spot.”

Story hasn’t walked at all this season, but has repeatedly said he needs to stay aggressive at the plate.

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“You can stay aggressive in the zone,” said Cora. “But he’s been aggressive in the zone and outside the zone. Everything starts with controlling (the strike zone). That’s the most important thing. I haven’t seen too many guys making a living in this league hitting pitches out of the zone. That’s a hard a way to live.

“As far as swing decisions, you have to swing at the right ones. He hasn’t been able to track the ball back — let’s put it that way. It feels like he’s not seeing it well. There’s a fine line between being aggressive and being passive. I want him to be on the go until you stop. There’s been a lot of pitches off the plate that he’s been swinging at. We’ve got to get back to simplifying."

For his part, Story understands that he’s got to be more selective.

“And taking care of the pitch when I get it,” he added. “That’s been a part of it and not expanding. Those are the things that are happening right now. I feel confident in the work that we’re doing that we’ll get it right. We know where we need to work and that’s what we’re doing. We’re very confident in the offense that we have and the players that we have. Time’s on our side, but have an urgency to get it done.”

Story said he won’t really change his approach after being moved from second to fifth in the lineup.

“I’m aggressive. That’s kind of my nature as a hitter,” he said. “I have to find a way to find the right balance there. But as far as where I hit (in the order), I don’t think that changes much.”

Story said a key to his success, in addition to better swing decisions, is being able to drive the ball to the opposite field more.

“Baseball’s tough, man,” he said. “Success lives in the margins and the details. I feel really good about the work today and feel good about tonight.”

The team’s sluggish offensive start has buried the Red Sox in the division basement and Story said the team must show some urgency.

“We know it’s early,” said Story. “But we know it’s a tough division and we’ve got our work ahead of us. If we’re going to be the team we think we can be, we’re going to have to fight our way out of this.”

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