(USA Today Sports)
Final: Red Sox 1, Tampa Bay Rays 2 - Red Sox unable to give Nick Pivetta run support in what could be his last start with the Red Sox
Trevor's Game Notes:
Red Sox Finale: Today's game was the final start of the season and possibly the last game ever as a member of the Boston Red Sox for Nick Pivetta. In this outing, Pivetta gave it all he got, pitching 6.2 innings and only allowing 2 earned runs. He cruised through the first six innings of this game, but once the 7th inning rolled around Pivetta wasn't able to keep the shutout goiing, as he would allow an RBI double off the monster to Josh Lowe. Zach Penrod took over for Pivetta, and he would allow the second and final run for the Rays after giving up a run with the bases loaded. As Pivetta left the mound, the Boston crowd gave the starter a round of applause knowing that this could possibly be the last time Pivetta pitches in a Red Sox uniform.
Lack of Offense: Boston wasn't able to provide any offense for Pivetta, going runless against Rays' starter Taj Bradley and only scoring one total run. Their only run came in the 7th inning from a sacrifice fly from Nick Sogard. Like Pivetta, Bradley cruised through the first six innings of the game before beiing taken out in the 7th for bullpen reinforcement. Frustrating game to see despite it being meaningless.
The Red Sox will continue their series with Tampa Bay tomorrow at 4:10 p.m.
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WHO: Red Sox (80-79) vs.Tampa Bay Rays (78-81)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: 5-5 (1-3/4-2)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (6-11, 4.21) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (7-11, 4.30)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) SS
Triston Casas (L) 1B
Connor Wong (R) C
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Nick Sogard (S) 3B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
SP Nick Pivetta
RAYS
Yandy Díaz (R) 1B
Brandon Lowe (L) DH
Junior Caminero (R) 3B
Jonathan Aranda (L) 2B
Jonny DeLuca (R) CF
Josh Lowe (L) RF
Richie Palacios (L) LF
José Caballero (R) SS
Logan Driscoll (L) C
SP Taj Bradley
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox were eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday after their loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston has already clinched a better record than they’ve had in the last two years (78-84). With two wins against the Rays, they’ll finish with their first winning record since 2021.
Nick Pivetta will pitch possibly his final game with the Boston Red Sox tonight. He is set to hit free agency this offseason.
Closer Kenley Jansen is not here with the Red Sox for the final three games of the season, per Christopher Smith of MassLive. The righty, who Boston placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation Monday, decided to head home early. Jansen is set to hit free agency this offseason as well.