Nick Pivetta outdueled a history-seeking Jacob deGrom Wednesday night, when the right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, combined with three relievers on a two-hitter and earned the win as the visiting Boston Red Sox edged the New York Mets 1-0.
Christian Vazquez had an RBI double in the second for the Red Sox, who swept the two-game interleague series.
DeGrom (2-2), seeking to become the first pitcher to ever strike out at least 14 batters in four straight starts, took a familiar hard-luck defeat after allowing the one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine over six innings.
Wednesday’s outing marked a major league-high 33rd time since DeGrom’s debut season in 2014 that he has gone at least six innings, allowed one run or fewer and not earned the win.
The nine strikeouts increased deGrom’s season total to 59 – tied for the most ever through a pitcher’s first five starts with Nolan Ryan (1978).
DeGrom also went 0-for-2 at the plate as his five-game hitting streak dating back to 2019 ended.
Pivetta (3-0) allowed one hit – a second-inning single by Jeff McNeil – and walked three while striking out seven. He had just one 1-2-3 inning but held the Mets hitless in eight plate appearances with runners on.
The one-hit effort was the second straight for Pivetta, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners last Thursday before giving up a two-run double to Ty France.
Pivetta also worked a 10-pitch at-bat against deGrom in the third in which he fouled off four fastballs clocked at 98 mph or higher and a pair of 91 mph sliders before striking out.
Garrett Whitlock allowed a hit over two innings, Adam Ottavino threw a perfect eighth and Matt Barnes struck out all three batters in the ninth for his sixth save.
–Field Level Media