All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Braves, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Pivetta struggles from start, puts rotation spot in jeopardy: Coming off one of his best starts of the season (6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER) in an 8-3 win over the slugging Blue Jays, Sox starter Nick Pivetta had trouble from the start on Tuesday night in Atlanta: hit, home run, walk, hit by pitch and by the end of the frame the Sox trailed the best team in the NL 4-0.
"Tonight was not my night," Pivetta told reporters. "Not going to read too much into it. Just kind of go back to my regular routine, my pitches, my bullpen continue to go about my business like I have been the whole entire year, my career. It's one of those nights. It's unfortunate, you know, wasn't able to get it going from the beginning cost the team the loss, which is unfortunate but you know, you're gonna have those type of games and it's how you bounce back."
Things are about to get crowded in the Sox' rotation with James Paxton set to make his season debut Friday, and Garrett Whitlock close to returning. With Chris Sale, Corey Kluber and Paxton not available for relief. That means two spots will go to either Pivetta, Whitlock, Brayan Bello (starter, could go to Worcester) or Tanner Houck.
Pivetta (2-3, 6.23 ERA) seemed a little sensitive when asked if he thinks he's pitching for his spot in the rotation.
“I don’t really understand what you’re saying but I’m just going to continue to go out and do my job,” Pivetta said. “I’ve started for this team my whole entire career. I’m going to continue to do that. By the end of the year, I’m going to continue to do that, then next year and the year on out.”
Pivetta (4 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 3 BB) needed 90 pitches just to complete four frames. He broke the Sox' streak of having the starter go at least 5 innings in 13 straight starts.
Cora said Pivetta will take his next turn on Tuesday. But after that, it's for debate.
“He wasn’t able to put guys away, had a few at-bats with two strikes,” Cora said. “Didn’t put them away. It was just one of those.
"Today, it was off from the first pitch. I looked at the radar ... I think it was 90, the first fastball, and you're like, 'Oh, what was going on here?' Then it picked up a little bit but by that time, it was like ..."
Yoshida's hit streak halted at 16: Masataka Yoshida went 0 for 5 with a strikeout and three left on base to snap his hit streak. Braves starter Charlie Morton (4-3, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 Ks) had Yoshida off balance from the beginning as he got jammed on a weak pop up, and then expanded the zone in other at-bats.
Offense squanders chances: Despite being dominated early by the Braves and Morton, the Sox had their chances to make this game, especially in the second inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Reese McGuire took a called third strike on a full count to end the threat. Trailing 8-3 in the eighth, Bobby Dalbec pinch-hit for Triston Casas with two on and went down swinging.
TWO UP
Justin Turner: Entered 0 for 10 but was one of the few players in the lineup that looked comfortable, going 2 for 3 with a homer and an RBI double. The two-bagger was the 300th of his career.
"I know he's enjoying it," Cora said. "He's gonna keep putting together good at-bats. He's gonna keep griding it. He's gonna keep helping us to win games."
Alex Verdugo: Entered 0 for 5 but his sweet stroke was back in this one with three hits, including a double.
TWO DOWN
Reese McGuire: Was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and four left on base. Ouch.
Rafael Devers: Was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts to extend his skid to 0 for 7.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"The consistency throughout his career. There's a guy that I know people talk about the Mets but there were other teams that gave up on him before and he worked at his craft in between New York and LA and found it similar to JD (Martinez). They worked so hard in the cage and tried to find their swing and reinventing themselves and they became very big leaders. In the way he goes about it, it's fun to watch. Very likable guy, smart and loves the game." - Cora on Turner.
UP NEXT
The final game of the two-game set is at 7:20 p.m. and will have RHP Brayan Bello (1-1, 5.71) vs. TBA.