Boston Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story. Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox place 2B Trevor Story on 10-day IL with hand contusion

The Boston Red Sox are freefalling in the AL East standings, having lost eight of their last 11 games entering Saturday's action. 

If they hope to turn things around, they'll have to do so without starting second baseman Trevor Story, for now. 

On Saturday, the Red Sox placed Story on the 10-day injured list with a hand contusion. 

Story left Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays after being hit in the hand by a pitch from Rays' starter Corey Kluber. X-rays on Story's hand came back negative, and there was hope he could return to action for the weekend series against the Yankees. However, after missing the last three games, the Red Sox decided to place Story on the IL. 

In his first season with the Red Sox, Story is batting .221/.289/.423 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI in 81 games. 

After spending the first six years of his career with the Colorado Rockies, Story signed a six-year, $140M free agent contract with the Red Sox ahead of the 2022 season. 

Boston recalled catcher Connor Wong from Triple-A Worcester to fill the vacant spot on the active roster. 

Wong tallied a hit and an RBI in eight plate appearances for the Red Sox earlier this season. In 60 games for Worcester, Wong batted .266/.336/.408 with six home runs and 22 RBI. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Giants rookie CF to undergo season-ending labrum surgery
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Late goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals
Ex-teammate of Shohei Ohtani placed bets with same illegal bookmaker as interpreter 
Former Rams first-round pick retires from NFL after 11 seasons
Insider provides major injury update on Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis
Watch: Bruins strike first in Game 6 with incredible backhand goal
Dodgers make series of moves involving notable players
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader
Greg Olsen offers broadcasting advice to Tom Brady