When Red Sox ‘really felt like’ they were ‘going to win’ in walkoff victory

BOSTON — Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story fired a perfect strike to catcher Carlos Narváez to cut down Astros’ Chas McCormick at the plate for the second out of the 10th inning and keep the game tied.

Roman Anthony then delivered a walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the inning to lead the Red Sox to a 2-1 win over Houston at Fenway Park on Friday.

Anthony’s hit won it but Story preventing McCormick, the automatic extra-inning runner, from scoring proved to be the most pivotal moment in Boston’s victory.

“It’s never done until you get the job done, right?” Story said. “But you definitely feel like, ‘All right. Momentum’s on our side.’ Then you have to lock in for that last out. Once we retired the side there, it really felt like we were going to win the game.”

The Red Sox played the infield in with a runner at third and one out. Story ranged to his left, fielded Mauricio Dubón’s 79.9 mph ground ball cleanly and made a three-quarter throw to the exact spot where Narváez could easily apply the tag on McCormick.

“The ball took a nice hop for me even though I was kind of going to my left,” Story said. “Those are plays that we practice a lot. And we throw it like that a lot just for times like that. So using my athleticism and trusting that, trusting the work we do pregame.”

Manager Alex Cora added, “Great jump and great throw to the plate. … He’s been amazing. He’s been really good. Moving better. His arm is playing again. So he’s a good defender.”

Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert completed the scoreless top of the 10th inning by getting Jeremy Peña to fly out to left field.

“When they didn’t score, I was like, ‘We better win this one,” Cora said. “Especially where they were in the lineup. Ceddanne (Rafaela) bunted him over and Roman put a good swing.”