In possibly his final start in a Red Sox uniform, righty Nick Pivetta pitched well but took the loss.
Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta throws during the first inning against the Rays on Friday. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP
Pivetta opened with five scoreless innings but gave up two runs in the sixth. The Red Sox lost 2-1 here at Fenway Park on Friday.
He gave up four hits and one walk while striking out six in 6 ⅔ innings.
Pivetta is eligible for free agency this coming offseason. He has posted a 4.29 ERA (633 innings, 302 earned runs) in 131 outings (107 starts) with the Red Sox over five seasons. The 31-year-old finished 2024 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 outings (26 starts).
Boston cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Vaughn Grissom and Romy Gonzalez singled to put runners at the corners. Grissom scored on Nick Sogard’s sac fly to right field.
But that was all the offense Boston could muster. The Red Sox had just six hits, three from Grissom.
The Red Sox are back at .500 with an 80-80 record.
Saturday’s game
The Red Sox and Rays will play again Saturday here at Fenway Park. Rays righty Shane Baz (3-3, 3.07 ERA) will start opposite Red Sox righty Kutter Crawford (9-15, 4.17 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.
Baz beat Boston in Tampa Bay on Sept. 17, allowing just two runs in 7 innings.
