Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta was a tough-luck loser on the mound on Monday night, but he made history in the month of July.
Pivetta, who has spent a majority of season as a member of the Red Sox bullpen, got the start on Monday against the Seattle Mariners. With a thin 'pen around him, Pivetta did everything the Red Sox could have asked him to do and more.
He went 7.1 innings, allowed just five hits and three earned runs. He walked none, struck out 10 and threw more than 100 pitches, resetting the bullpen for the rest of the series. Boston ended up losing 6-2.
As for the history... Per ESPN Stats & Info:
Nick Pivetta had 43 strikeouts in July and started 1 game. That's the most strikeouts by a player with 0 or 1 starts in a month since Dick Radatz had 45 in May of 1964.
h/t @EliasSports
Pivetta moved to the bullpen earlier this season after really struggling as a starter. He also wasn't initially happy going to the 'pen, but he's been a force for the Sox since going there, as evidenced.
For the season, he's now 7-6 with a 4.08 ERA. He's struck out 110 batters in 88.1 innings.
Lifetime, the 30-year-old Canadian is 47-56. He's in his seventh year in the big leagues with the Phillies and Red Sox. He was acquired by Boston during the COVID 2020 season.
After the loss, the Red Sox are 2.5 games back of the final wild card spot. The Mariners are 3.5 back after the win.
The two teams play again Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. ET.
More must-reads: