Red Sox: Nick Pivetta’s ALDS heroics reminiscent of 2018 Nathan Eovaldi

Nick Pivetta’s heroics in Game 3 of the ALDS are drawing comparisons to Nathan Eovaldi’s performance for the Red Sox in Game 3 of the World Series

In July 2018, Nathan Eovaldi was the trade deadline acquisition the Boston Red Sox acquired to bolster a rotation full of superstars.

They acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Jalen Beeks. It wasn’t exactly an earth-shattering deal.

But by October of that year, he was a Red Sox legend, pitching in relief in three consecutive World Series games, including a near-100-pitch relief appearance in Game 3. It became the longest game in postseason history, both by time and number of innings. Ultimately, Eovaldi threw more pitches than the game’s starter, Rick Porcello.

In 2020, Nick Pivetta was just one of the two arms the Red Sox got from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.

On Sunday night, he cemented his own place in the lengthy lore of Red Sox postseason heroics.

After reliever Hansel Robles blew a 4-2 lead and allowed the Rays to tie the game in the top of the eighth, Garrett Whitlock pitched through the end of the top of the ninth. With the Boston lineup unable to walk it off in the bottom of the frame, Alex Cora turned to Pivetta, who had been the presumed starter for the following game.

Instead, Pivetta ended up pitching four innings, allowing three hits and walking one batter, but holding the potent Rays offense scoreless and striking out seven. With every passing out, both Pivetta and the Fenway crowd (myself included) became more hyped up.

Finally, in the bottom of the thirteen inning, Christian Vazquez hit a walk-off two-run home run to end the game and give Boston a 2-1 series lead.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora compared Nick Pivetta’s ALDS performance to Nathan Eovaldi in the 2018 World Series

Pivetta’s performance drew understandable comparisons to Eovaldi’s. In both cases, the pitcher was slated to start the following game and ultimately, had to forgo their start due to the length of their relief appearance. Ironically, in Sunday’s game, Eovaldi was the starting pitcher.

Both Pivetta and Eovaldi had come in to their respective relief appearances on short rest. Eovaldi pitched briefly in both Game 1 and 2 of the World Series before his now-legendary performance in the third game. Cora tried to avoid using his Game 4 starter until it became his only option.

Similarly, Pivetta had pitched in Game 1 of the ALDS, a 4 2/3-inning performance in which he allowed three earned runs on four hits, with two walks and only four strikeouts. That was Thursday, and he had thrown 73 pitches. By night’s end, he’d thrown another 67.

Cora confirmed the comparison, saying Pivetta’s performance was “very similar to Nate in Game 3.”

As someone who was there in person to witness both of these performances, the energy was remarkably similar. It was electric; the crowd was passionate and Pivetta was fired up. Whereas Nasty Nate’s heroics were on display at Dodger Stadium, this time, the moment came at home. And there’s no better place for postseason drama than Fenway Park.

The Red Sox now hold a 2-1 series lead, but it has not been an easy road. Eduardo Rodriguez and Chris Sale both struggled in their starts in the first two games of the series and were pulled early, resulting in heavy bullpen games. Many heroes have stepped up, but the Sox pitchers must be exhausted, which could be a serious advantage for Tampa Bay.

But if it’s anything like the day after Eovaldi’s performance in 2018, Cora will have a line up pitchers waiting outside his office, begging to step up for their team.