BOSTON — Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta threw four scoreless innings to open his start Friday. But the Padres scored nine runs in the fifth inning before Pivetta and reliever Greg Weissert recorded a single out.
Pivetta allowed five straight batters to reach and Weissert allowed four straight hitters to reach. The Red Sox lost 9-2 here at Fenway Park.
Pivetta showed increased fastball velocity. His 37 four-seam fastballs averaged 95.2 mph, up from an average velo of 94.3 mph in his first 11 starts (per Baseball Savant). But his sweeper gave him some trouble.
He ended up allowing five runs (all earned), seven hits and one walk while striking out four. His ERA jumped from 4.06 to 4.52.
Three of the seven hits Pivetta allowed, including both extra-base hits, came against his sweeper. He allowed three hits on his four-seamer and one hit on his slider.
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