In Boston, Rafael Devers delivered a stellar performance with two home runs, while Jarren Duran showcased his speed with an MLB-leading ninth triple. Nick Pivetta’s fiery pitching, striking out nine, led the Red Sox to a commanding 9-0 victory over the Braves at Fenway Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The two-game series between Boston and Atlanta ended in a split, as Pivetta, Zack Kelly, and Brad Keller combined to limit the Braves to just one hit.
Next up, the Red Sox head to Chicago for a four-game series against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, starting Thursday.
Devers ignited the scoring with his first homer of the game, his 12th of the season, a 358-foot shot to left field off Braves rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in the second inning. The Red Sox continued to pile on runs, with David Hamilton’s RBI double and Reese McGuire’s sac fly extending their lead to 3-0 in the same inning.
Boston’s offense remained relentless, adding three more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Duran’s triple and RBI hits from Enmanuel Valdez, Dom Smith, and Tyler O’Neill.
O’Neill, who returned from the 10-day injured list due to right knee inflammation, made an immediate impact with a solid single in his first at-bat and contributed an RBI hit later in the game.
Devers wasn’t done yet, smashing his second homer of the day, his 13th of the season, in the seventh inning, a two-run blast to left-center field. Duran joined the home run parade with a solo shot in the eighth, sealing the Red Sox’s dominant performance.
On the mound, Pivetta dazzled with seven scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out nine batters. His only hiccup came in the fourth inning, but he swiftly worked out of trouble with key strikeouts, showcasing his determination and excitement as he returned to the dugout.
This stellar performance was a far cry from Pivetta’s struggles against the Braves last year, where he allowed seven earned runs in just four innings.
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