Boston Red Sox Reliever Nick Pivetta Makes Team - and Baseball

The Boston Red Sox shut out the Oakland Athletics on Monday night, 7-0, as they continue to make noise in the American League playoff race.

After the win, Boston is now 51-44. They have won eight of their last 10 games, are out of last place in the American League East, and only trail in the wild card race by 1.5 games.

The story of the game for the Red Sox was two-fold: Connor Wong on offense, and Nick Pivetta on the mound.

Wong went 3-for-4 on the day with three RBI to raise his batting average to .242 and Pivetta threw six dominant innings in relief, allowing no hits and striking out 13.

His performance was historic on both the team and general sport levels.

Per ESPN Stats & Info:

- Nick Pivetta has 13 strikeouts, the most by a Red Sox reliever in franchise history.

- Pivetta's 13 strikeouts without allowing a hit are the most by a reliever since the mound was set at its current distance in 1893. h/t @EliasSports

Pivetta's 13 strikeouts without allowing a hit are the most by a reliever since the mound was set at its current distance in 1893. h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/al4sOKlaT2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 18, 2023

Pivetta wasn't crazy about being demoted from the starting rotation earlier this year, but he's found a home in the bullpen. The 30-year-old is 6-5 this season with a 4.44 ERA. He's appeared in 23 games (15 as a reliever) and has struck out 94 batters in 75 innings.

He's in his seventh year in the big leagues with the Phillies and Red Sox. Boston acquired him in the COVID 2020 season.

The Red Sox and A's will play again on Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

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