Los Angeles – Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta managed to strike out Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani three times in a single game on Friday night, joining an exclusive club of pitchers who have achieved this feat this season. Pivetta’s stellar performance, including striking out Ohtani in all three matchups between the two, was a highlight of the game, which the Dodgers ultimately won 4-1 on a Freddie Freeman grand slam.
Pivetta, who threw 94 pitches with 60 strikes, finished the game with 8 strikeouts and only allowed three batters to reach base in six shutout innings. His success against Ohtani, one of the best in the game, was a result of consistently attacking him at the top of the zone with a fastball.
The game marked another impressive outing for Pivetta, who has been on a run of success in July with a 1.83 ERA in three starts, totaling 28 strikeouts in 19 ⅔ innings. Pivetta attributes his recent success to feeling fully strong again after missing time due to a flexor strain earlier in the season.
While Pivetta took a no-decision in the game due to a rare bullpen implosion by the Red Sox, manager Alex Cora praised his performance, stating that he gave the team a chance to win against a tough Dodgers lineup. Pivetta’s strong performance against a likely playoff team bodes well for his future outings as he continues to impress on the mound.
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