Nick Pivetta tabbed as the No.2 starter in the Red Sox rotation
Nick Pivetta had an impressive first spring training start. The 29-year-old dominated the Twins over three innings without yielding a hit and striking out five batters. Pivetta set the tone for the team’s third straight win of the spring.
“I felt good. Was able to command the zone very well, get my curveball over for strikes, get a couple changeups, a couple sliders -- two sliders -- for strikeouts. So it was good,” said Pivetta. “A good one to build on.”
Manager Alex Cora told reporters following the game that Pivetta has been penciled in as the club’s No. 2 starter behind Nathan Eovaldi. The right-handed hurler will get the ball on April 7 against the New York Yankees.
“He worked on a few things in the offseason where you can see him physically where he’s at, the stuff was really good,” Cora said. “The fastball played today. It was a good day for him.”
Pivetta looked locked in from the first pitch. He was throwing strikes, attacked the Twins hitters and worked quickly.
“It helps everybody, defensively, too,” Cora said. “You have to be locked in… I love the fact that he gets the ball and he’s on the rubber. If there’s a pitch clock, he’ll be good.”
Pivetta set the tone as a leader during the lockout getting other Red Sox players together to workout. Prior to spring training, Pivetta would throw live batting practices and bullpens to prepare for the upcoming season.
“It was a group effort but I just made sure everybody was on the same page,” Pivetta said. “I was concerned about guys, making sure they could get their work in and that pitchers could [throw to] catchers, and I wanted to make sure hitters could see fastballs and get their swings ready, and I think that was a priority.”
Pivetta will look to build off his 2021 season where he finished with a 9-8 record, one save, 4.53 ERA, yielding 137 hits, 175 strikeouts in 155 innings in 31 games.
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