One of the keys to the Boston Red Sox resurgence since their horrendous start has been Nick Pivetta (6-5, 3.50 ERA). Pivetta has gone 6-1 since starting the season 0-4 and he was outstanding tonight, holding the hapless Oakland A's to just 1 run allowed in 8 dominating innings. Meanwhile the Sox bats attacked A's starter Jared Koenig for six runs in four innings highlighted by a three run homer by Rafael Devers. JD Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Rob at all drove in runs to put the game away early. Pivetta held the A's to just a solo home run and Phillips Valdez closed out the ninth as the Sox beat the A's 6-1 at Fenway Park.
Pivetta got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tony Kemp grounded out to short to start. "Razor" Ramon Laureano popped up to first and Christian Bethancourt flied out to center to end the inning. Koenig got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Rob Refsnyder got a base hit to left to start. Rafael Devers forced Rob at second but JD Martinez drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a balk and Xander Bogaerts got a base hit to right to score Devers. Trevor Story grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Seth Brown grounded out to second to start the top of the second and Chad Pinder took strike three. Elvis Andrus popped up to short to end the inning. Alex Verdugo grounded out to second to start the bottom of the second but Christian Vazquez got a base hit to left. Bobby Dalbec also singled to left and Franchy Cordero was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Refsnyder hit a sac fly to center to score Vazquez but Devers grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Stephen Vogt walked to start the top of the third but Sean Murphy grounded into a double play. Jonah Bride grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third when Martinez belted his 8th home run of the year to increase the lead. Bogaerts singled in the hole at second but Story popped up to second. Verdugo walked but Vazquez flied out to center. Dalbec took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.
Kemp singled to center to start the top of the fourth but Laureano hit one up the elevator shaft. Bethancourt grounded out to third to move Kemp to second and Tony took third on a wild pitch. Brown struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fourth as Cordero got a base hit to left to start. Refsnyder beat out a roller to third amd Devers smashed his 15th home run of the year to increase the lead. Martinez struck out swinging but Bogaerts was plunked. Story struck out swinging and Verdugo popped up to short to end the inning with Boston ahead 6-0.
Kiss that one goodbye
Pivetta got in trouble in the top of the fifth inning although Pinder struck out swinging to start. Andrus grounded out to second but Vogt walked. Murphy singled to center but Bride forced him at second to end the inning. Adam Oller came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Vazquez grounded out to second to start. Dalbec grounded out to short but Cordero walked. Kemp somewhat booted a grounder by Refsnyder for a "single" Andrus booted a grounder by Devers for another error to load the bases but Martinez flied out to left to end the inning.
Pivetta cruised in the top of the sixth as Kemp flied out to left to start. Laureano flied out to center and Bethancourt flied out to right to end the inning. Bogaerts walked to start the bottom of the sixth but Story struck out swinging again. Verdugo banged into a double play to end the inning.
Pivetta returned for the top of the seventh and Brown popped up to second to start. Pinder was retired on a squibber in front of the plate and Andrus flied out to right to end the inning. Lou Trivino came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Vazquez grounded out to third to start. Dalbec struck out swinging and Cordero went down hacking as well to end the inning.
Pivetta was sent back out for the top of the eighth and naturally Vogt hit a home run into the Charles River to break up the shutout. Murphy lined out to second before Bogaerts made a hell of a throw to get Bride at short. Kemp grounded out to first to end the inning. That was it for Pivetta who went 8 innings and allowed just 3 hits including a home run in 100 pitches. He was outstanding.
Austin Pruitt came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Refsnyder lined out to center to start. Devers grounded out to first and Martinez flied out to right to end the inning.
Phillips Valdez came in to close out the top of the ninth and naturally walked Laureano. Bethancourt singled off of Valdez but Brown lined out to a running Verdugo. Pinder grounded into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-1.
Hero of the Night is Nick Pivetta. He shut down the A's for 8 inning and allowed just 3 hits and a run.
The Good:
Rob Refsnyder was 3 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 2 with a walk, hot NY pitch and an rbi.
Franchy Cordero was 1 for 2 with a walk, hit by pitch and a run scored.
Phillips Valdez pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Trevor Story was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a 3 run homer, he also scored two runs.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 but walked.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Bobby Dalbec was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Final Thoughts:
As mentioned earlier with surprise injuries to Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock, Pivetta has been the key to the Sox 9-2 run through the AL West the last two weeks. He's won 6 of his last 7 decisions and the Sox are going to need him to step up in the next few weeks with two starters down. Offensively the Sox didn't do much after the fourth inning but they did enough to have a commanding lead throughout the game. Refsnyder stepped up in the leadoff spot and maybe he can seize the spot from Kike Hernandez if Hernandez continues to hit around the mendoza line. All in all it was a good win and the Sox need to continue to beat around the A's the next two games with all four other AL East teams playing each other. The win improved the Sox to 33-29, good for fourth place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to make it two in a row against the A's when the Sox called up Josh Winckowski (0-1, 12.00 ERA) from Worcester to take on Jake Kaprielian of Oakland. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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