Nick Pivetta struck out eight over five innings in his Red Sox debut, Christian Vazquez hit a three-run home run and Boston beat the visiting Baltimore Orioles 8-3 in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.
Pivetta (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and three walks as the Red Sox (21-34) kicked off their final home series of the season. Pivetta, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies last month, made his first major league start since July 17, 2019.
Renato Nunez homered for the Orioles (23-32), who lost for the 11th time in their last 14 games.
Matt Barnes got the final out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his ninth save.
The lone blemish on Pivetta's night came in the first inning, when he walked a pair and allowed a run to score on a two-out single by DJ Stewart. Pivetta struck out the side in order in the second and later escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the fifth to end his outing.
In the meantime, the Red Sox built a 4-1 lead. Bobby Dalbec and Michael Chavis drove in runs in a three-run second, and Dalbec struck again with an RBI single in the third.
After Pivetta left, Nunez greeted Marcus Walden with a long home run to left to open the sixth, and Rio Ruiz doubled home a run later in the inning to cut the margin to 4-3. Ryan Weber came on and struck out Cedric Mullins to end the threat.
Boston blew the game open in the bottom of the frame, J.D. Martinez singling home a run before Vazquez's blast off reliever Evan Phillips made it 8-3. Phillips exited during the next at-bat with an injury.
Martinez went 3-for-5 to pace a 14-hit Red Sox attack. Rafael Devers went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
Keegan Akin got the start for the Orioles, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits over four innings. Akin (1-2) struck out six but needed 94 pitches.
--Field Level Media
