BOSTON -- When the Red Sox signed veteran slugger Adam Duvall to a one-year contract on Jan. 24, it was a direct reaction to Trevor Story undergoing right elbow surgery 15 days earlier.

On Sunday, during a hot and steamy afternoon at Fenway Park, the Sox saw the benefits of having both right-handed-hitting run producers in the middle of the lineup.

With Story batting third and Duvall in the five-hole, the duo led the Red Sox to a 6-3 win over the Tigers in the rubber match of a three-game series.

In particular, Story stood out. The shortstop, playing in just his fifth game of the season, put his full skill set on display. Story had a 4-for-4 performance that included three doubles, two runs and two stolen bases. 

“Definitely more comfortable,” said Story. “At-bats are much better, and I’m more consistent with the timing. And driving the ball the other way, that’s always a good sign for me. I’m able to catch the breaking balls out front and maybe pull those. Yeah, it’s a great time for me, and I’m definitely happy with the last couple of days.”

At his best, Story has always been good at filling up a box score. He took it to an extreme on Sunday that will go in the annals of Red Sox history. Story joined John Valentin (June 13, 1995) and Dom DiMaggio (April 20, 1941) as the only players in club history to record at least three extra-base hits and two stolen bases in the same game.

“It’s awesome, honestly, having him back on the field,” said Red Sox righty Kutter Crawford, who held the Tigers to two runs over 4 2/3 innings. “We know what he’s capable of. He’s great in the clubhouse. He’s a great teammate. The big goal was to get him back on the field, and I think the rest will take care of itself.”

While Story is a difference-maker in every way on a baseball field, Duvall’s clear strength is his power. And he displayed it with a three-run rocket that soared over the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street as part of a four-RBI day.

The homer exited Duvall’s bat at 106.9 mph and traveled a Statcast-projected 403 feet. It was obviously not a Fenway-only homer; per Statcast, it would have gone out of all 30 MLB parks.

“I didn't watch it too long,” Duvall said, “but it feels good knowing, with that wall at 310 [feet], that it’s going to go. Any time you can get the barrel to it to that side of the field, it's got a chance.”

With the win, the Sox remain three games behind the Blue Jays for the third American League Wild Card spot. Boston is also two games behind the Mariners as the first team outside the final AL Wild Card berth, pending the outcome of Seattle’s game against Baltimore on Sunday.

After years of playing against each other in the National League, Story and Duvall are relishing the chance to play together.

“To be on the same team and just kind of see the impact that he has on the lineup, it's real,” Story said. “And I think up and down our lineup is very dangerous, and [Duvall’s] a huge part of that, and it showed today.”

Duvall’s job as a hitter is easier when the speedy Story is on base, giving the opposing pitcher something else to worry about.

“To get two stolen bases there [in the third] and then I was able to punch one through was nice,” said Duvall, who later had Story trotting home in front of him on his homer. “Having him on, he's a threat on the bases, which is good. He’s just an athlete.”

With Story and Duvall -- who missed two months this season with a left wrist injury -- in the lineup together, the Red Sox have a more formidable attack against lefties, as Eduardo Rodriguez learned the hard way on Sunday. For much of the season, the club’s lineup balance has been titled significantly toward the left.

“It felt good, just from an offensive group, and as a whole, we had a lot of chances with runners on and we were able to cash in there,” said Duvall. “I felt like we were grooving as an offense.”

The Sox will try to stay in that groove as they embark on a three-city road trip in which they will face the Nationals, Yankees and Astros.