Red Sox Notes: Nick Pivetta ‘Emotional’ Following Final Start Of 2024

BOSTON -- Nick Pivetta took the mound for the Red Sox, perhaps for the final time as the high-energy 31-year-old enters free agency this upcoming offseason with 48 hours left in the regular season.

As expected, the potential send-off at Fenway Park to open the first of Boston's final three matchups, against the Tampa Bay Rays, sparked a reaction from Pivetta who's spent the four and half years in Boston. Pivetta tipped his cap to the appreciative Fenway Park crowd after handing the ball over in the seventh inning and soaked in the moment.

"It's my last start, so far, for me being a Red Sox," Pivetta said after Boston's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay. "It's been a hefty four years, almost five years for me, and there's a lot to be grateful for. The opportunities I've been given, and tried to take advantage of every single one of them. But also had a lot of help along the way and there have been a lot of people around that have helped guide me and a lot of them are in the dugout, and have been in the dugout and a lot of the coaching staff. So it's really emotional for me."

Pivetta added: "Boston's become quite the home for me and my wife, Kristen, and we really enjoy it here and feel really comfortable."

The Red Sox received an excellent performance from Pivetta as the right-hander tossed six consecutive shutout innings before surrendering two runs in the seventh, ending the night at 6 2/3 innings of allowing four hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Boston's offense failed to support Pivetta with any form of run production, not scoring its single run until the bottom half of the seventh frame, although it didn't spoil what could be a sentimental finale for Pivetta in Boston.

"He likes it here," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He likes the atmosphere, he likes to compete. Towards the end, he was sitting there in my seat (in the dugout) and was like, 'This is a nice view.' ... He works so hard. It's intense, we talk about it. And today he was talking about the emotions, having flashbacks and all that stuff, whatever."

Here are more notes from Friday night's Rays-Red Sox game:

-- The Red Sox acquired Pivetta in 2021 from the Philadelphia Phillies before embarking on their last postseason run, which ended in the American League Championship Series. Pivetta has since grown into a reliable, blue-collar arm of versatility, capable of providing innings from the rotation and bullpen. He ends 2024 having recorded a 2.08 ERA in his final five starts at Fenway Park (31 1/3 innings).

"I think it's just the accumulation of it all," Pivetta explained. "There's not too many moments where you've been given an opportunity like I have and to be with a really great organization like the Red Sox, I'm very lucky and I'm very, very grateful for that."

-- Boston's first five batters went a combined 2-for-19 with seven strikeouts while Triston Casas, the No. 3 hitter, recorded the team's only extra-base hit (a double) in the bottom of the sixth inning.

-- Opposing teams have held the Red Sox to one run or scoreless 31 times this season.

-- Boston dropped to an even 80-80 on the season and 24-26 when facing division opponents, including 5-6 against Tampa Bay.

-- The Red Sox and Rays return for their second-to-final matchup of the year on Saturday. First pitch from Fenway Park is set for 4:10 p.m. ET, and you can catch the live action, plus a full hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.