Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) — Nick Pivetta teamed with two relievers to throw a one-hit shutout and Rafael Devers hit two home runs and scored three runs because the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 9-0 on Wednesday.
Pivetta (3-4) went seven innings and allowed Atlanta's only hit – a leadoff single by Austin Riley within the fourth inning. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out nine players and finished the sport against the Seattle Mariners on March 29 only one strikeout shy of his season record.
“To be honest, I wouldn't say I felt great,” Pivetta said. “But yeah, it was a good outing. I think the guys were at bat the whole game and allowed me to get a lot of runs, so I was able to just attack the strike zone, get ahead of the guys and allow them to strike each other out. It was a good team win today.”
Devers hit a solo home run within the second inning and a two-run shot within the seventh inning, making it the seventeenth multi-home run game of his profession and the primary since July 14, 2023 against the Chicago Cubs. He has hit 13 home runs this season.
“Now he's focused,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Devers. “He's sticking to the fastballs, using the whole field, not chasing pitches, hitting the ball the other way, that's focused. Now he's very dangerous.”
Jarren Duran hit a solo home run within the eighth inning, his fourth of the season. Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Tyler O'Neill and Dominic Smith each had two hits as Boston improved to 31-31 with its fifth win in 12 games.
Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (0-2) allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks (one intentional) in 4 2/3 innings in his second profession start.
“A lot of strikes, the kid is still learning,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He doesn't have much to fall back on yet. But the stuff was good. He threw a lot of strikes. Got hurt on some two-strikes, probably got too much of the batting plate. But he's really competitive. The stuff is good and there's a lot of potential there.”
Boston took a 3-0 lead within the second inning. Devers led off with a house run. O'Neill hit a single and Dominic Smith drew a walk before David Hamilton's double scored O'Neill. Hamilton scored on a sacrifice fly by Reese McGuire.
“After a tough second round, I felt like I did a good job of coming back out and throwing strikes in the third and fourth rounds,” Schwellenbach said. “I was on top, throwing strikes and getting two strikes, but I just couldn't finish.”
The Red Sox scored three more runs within the fifth inning. Duran, who entered the sport as MLB's leading triple hitter, hit his ninth of the season and scored on Enmanuel Valdez's double. After an intentional walk by Devers with two outs, O'Neill hit a double that scored Devers and chased Schwellenbach away. Ray Kerr got here in and allowed an RBI double to Smith.
Devers' two-run shot within the seventh inning brought home Rob Refsnyder, who had opened the inning with a double. Duran added a house run within the eighth inning against right-hander Jimmy Herget.
Boston right-hander Zack Kelly was called up before the sport to exchange Chris Martin, who was placed on the 15-day injured list because of tension. Kelly pitched within the eighth inning and finished the sport with two strikeouts. Brad Keller pitched the ninth.
TRAINING ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Chris Martin was placed on the 15-day injured list because of anxiety.
NEXT
The Braves travel to Washington on Thursday, where RHP Reynaldo Lopez (3-2, 1.73 ERA) will face Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (4-3, 3.60).
The Red Sox travel to Chicago on Thursday, where RHP Tanner Houck (5-5, 1.85) will face White Sox RHP Jake Woodford (0-1, 6.23).
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