After a tough loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox got back into the win column thanks to a complete game thrown by starter Nick Pivetta.
Pivetta allowed just one run on two hits as the Red Sox defeated the Astros by a final of 5-1 for their 15th win of the year.
Boston’s bullpen has been suspect all year long, so a start like this from Pivetta was much-needed.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked about the possibility of pulling Pivetta in the ninth.
His reasoning can be seen in the tweet below, and it’s quite hilarious.
Alex Cora said he stayed away from Pivetta in the dugout before the ninth because he was afraid he was going to kill him if he didn’t leave him in.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) May 19, 2022
Don’t Mess With Nick
That’s a good reason to not want to pull your starter.
When he’s locked in and cruising, he might just give you the business if you pull him out of the game.
Cora was simply playing the odds, but it’s quite a hilarious reason as to why he didn’t pull Pivetta.
Some pitchers do get a little intense from time to time.
One of the more recent examples was last season when Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave Max Scherzer a pat and Scherzer turned around and yelled at him.
That might’ve been what could have happened if Pivetta was pulled.
But the Red Sox needed a strong start and they got one out of Pivetta.
He managed to go the distance and get them back in the win column.
And when your starter does that, you do not mess with him.
Pivetta was locked in, and it would have been ill-advised for Cora to pull him.
Because if he looks like he wants to kill you, he just might.
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