On Friday night at T-Mobile Park, Nick Pivetta had the Mariners' number for most of the game, shutting down their aggressive batting with a mix of breaking balls and fastballs. He matched George Kirby, the Mariners' young ace, pitch for pitch, striking out 10 batters.
But in the sixth inning, Pivetta made a costly mistake, hanging a cutter to J.P. Crawford, who smashed it for a solo homer, the only run of the game. Despite this, Pivetta's performance was stellar, allowing just three hits and no walks, exactly what the Red Sox had hoped for when he showed promise in spring training.
Pivetta's opponent, Kirby, struggled early, walking two batters in the first inning, but the Red Sox failed to capitalize. Kirby settled in, showcasing his repertoire of pitches, including a slider, splitter, and knuckle curve, proving why he's one of the best in the game.
The Red Sox had their chances, with runners on base in several innings, but failed to score against the Mariners' bullpen. Josh Winckowski, in relief, kept the game close, but a late walk loaded the bases, and despite a great defensive play by Triston Casas, the Mariners secured the win.
Despite the loss, the Red Sox are encouraged by the performances of their starting pitchers, with both Bello and Pivetta delivering solid outings. Manager Cora is optimistic about the team's chances if they continue to get strong starts from their rotation.
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