Brayan Bello took the mound for the Red Sox back-to-back weekends against their arch-rivals and the right-hander tossed consecutive seven-inning gems.
Bello dominated the Yankees to complete the day/night doubleheader sweep and a sweep of the three-game series.
The 24-year-old was brilliant only surrounding four hits, giving up one earned run while walking three and striking out eight batters. His line on Sunday night was almost identical to the one last Sunday in the Bronx (last week - 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3K).
Bello has now tossed 14 innings against the Yankees and has only allowed three runs and he’s struck out 11.
“He keeps getting better,” Alex Cora said to reporters postgame. “His usage is getting where we want to. He’s been able to develop his slider in the big leagues. His changeup has always been a weapon. Using his fastball in different areas.
“It’s not easy to do, face the same lineup in back-to-back outings and go seven.”
After opening the game by walking leadoff man Jake Bauers and then giving up a double to Gleyber Torres, Anthony Rizzo grounded out to second plating home a run.
Following the first inning, Bello settled right in and retired 11 of his next 12 batters faced. He only allowed just two hits after the third inning, while keeping the Yankees lineup guessing. Bello had 41 swings on his pitches, 16 whiffs, with 14 coming off his sinker, 12 from his changeup and 11 from his four-seam fastball.
“At the end, it was his game where we were bullpen-wise and it worked that way,” Cora said. “We needed seven from him and we got it.”
Bello put a bow on the game in the seventh forcing Bauers to fan on his 102nd pitch, a changeup. The righty was fired up leaving the mound following the strikeout and his emotion was echoed back by the sellout Fenway crowd.
“The ability is there. It is. He’s enjoying the moment,” Cora said. “He’s been really good. Tonight was a cool night out here and for him to get those three outs in the seventh, I know it means a lot.”
Following the back-to-back wins over the Yankees in front of a national audience, Bello is showing he has arrived for the Sox. After working with Sox legend Pedro Martinez this winter primarily on his high fastball and slider, the right-hander has been suffocating lineups since posting a 2.60 ERA since April 29.
Cora keeps mentioning how proud he is of "the kids" when referring to Bello, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck. All three continue to make enormous strides, but Bello is starting to separate from the pack.
Nick Pivetta was Excellent in Relief on Sunday
Prior to Nick Pivetta getting demoted into the bullpen, the righty had no interest in wanting to entertain the idea of leaving the rotation.
Following a lackluster start in the Braves series, Pivetta was asked if he was auditioning to remain in the rotation as a starter. Pivetta took offense to the question, stating he didn’t quite understand what he was being asked.
“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 to reporters. “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.”
Since that point, Cora moved the 30-year-old right-hander into his bullpen. In his last five games, Pivetta has been clutch for his skipper, owning a 1.50 ERA, tossing six innings, giving up one run, while walking seven and striking out five. His walk total is high and he will need to limit them if he wants to entertain the notion of becoming a starter again.
Nick Pivetta has bought into his role in the bullpen and it’s paying off.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) June 18, 2023
Props to him.
pic.twitter.com/HNJIc9SkeE
On Sunday afternoon, Pivetta was surgical over three scoreless innings. He retired all nine batters he faced and he stranded an inherited runner at second base.
“He was dominant tonight. Good fastball, good slider, cutter,” said Cora.
“I think this is a different pitcher as a reliever than as a starter,” Cora said. “His stuff is getting better. The cutter, slider mix is a good one. He’s not a two-pitch pitcher now. And he’s moving his fastball all over the place. He’s not only up in the zone. There’s a little bit more conviction, better tempo. He cleaned up a few things mechanic-wise and it’s paying off.”
Keep an Eye on Luis Perales
The Red Sox have another young arm that you should start keeping tabs on down in the system: right-hander Luis Perales. The Venezuelan native, pitching for Low-A Salem, is slowly starting to put together a strong 2023 campaign. To be fair, right now, his overall stats don't exactly jump off the page and give you the warm and fuzzies.
He's just 2-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 starts with 21 walks and 49 strikeouts and a 1.41 WHIP. Over his last three starts this month, Perales is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 13 1/3 innings. The 20-year-old has surrendered six hits and three earned runs over that span while striking out 18 batters.
Perales projects more as a back-end starter with the ceiling of a middle-of-the-rotation type of arm. He offers a three-pitch mix, a 94-97 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup. Of all three pitches, his changeup is his weakest pitch. His fastball has topped out at 99 mph and is considered "plus-to-better," according to SoxProspects.
Baseball America ranks Perales as the Sox' No. 17 prospect in the system.
"Perales overwhelmed FCL hitters even when throwing nothing but fastballs, sitting at 94-97, topping out at 99 with ride from a low release height. Pushed to lean more frequently on his secondaries, Perales showed a power slider that flashed plus. It was especially effective against righties, but he couldn't control it consistently and he would sometimes slow his arm speed on it, allowing hitters to spit on pitches out of the zone. His changeup was fringy but showed promise as a third piece in a developing mix," wrote Baseball America.
As the Red Sox continue to elevate their prospects in the system, Perales could see some time in High-A Greenville if he continues to stay on his current track he has the last three starts. If Boston is in the mix for the Wild Card around mid-July and closer to the trade deadline, Perales could be an arm that Chaim Bloom could package in a deal to acquire a starting pitcher for the Sox rotation down the stretch.