Red Sox's Nick Pivetta pitches during the first inning Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Fenway Park. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
BOSTON — Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta allowed five runs in a disastrous second inning vs. the Blue Jays on Wednesday. But manager Alex Cora liked what he saw from the right-hander in the third and fourth innings after pitching coach Dave Bush spoke about mechanics with Pivetta in the dugout.
“Honestly, I believe the last two innings were his best innings so far out of the three outings (this season),” Cora said. “Velocity went up. There was some 95, 96 (mph). It seems like he was more aggressive with the fastball. He was able to get it to the outside part of the plate. If we’re going to take something positive out of this, it was the way he finished.”
Pivetta allowed five runs, seven hits (one homer) and four walks while striking out four in 4 innings. The Red Sox lost 6-1 to Toronto here at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
“I made mechanical changes that I’ve been kind of trying to search for, for the past 15-20 days now,” Pivetta said. “Just got my hands breaking in a better motion. I got my arm circulating better. My velo picked up. Everything picked up after that. So that was positive. But super disappointed with how the second inning went.”
Pivetta was sitting 92-93 mph with his fastball in the first and second innings. He reached 96.1 mph after the adjustment.
After Pivetta’s start last Friday, Cora pointed to the righty’s mechanics being off as the reason for his dip in velocity from last season.
The righty threw 56 four-seam fastballs vs. the Blue Jays, averaging 93.5 mph and topping out at 96.1 mph, per Baseball Savant.
“Got my mechanics back, it seems like. ... Really happy with how I bounced back (after the second inning),” Pivetta said.
Pivetta gave up a two-run homer to Raimel Tapia who connected on a 77.1 mph knuckle-curveball and blasted it into the right field stands. Bo Bichette’s two-run single also came against a 78.4 mph knuckle-curveball.
But Pivetta said his breaking ball felt a lot better tonight.
“A lot more consistent, especially as I made a mechanical adjustment,” Pivetta said. “I know Tapia hit the hanger. But I didn’t shy away from it. I kept throwing. I leaned on my fastball more in the third and fourth innings. I felt a lot better there.”
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