“He put in an unbelievable performance. That’s the kind of pitcher he is and will continue to be,” said injured teammate Lucas Giolito, who has known Pivetta for more than a decade, since their time together in the Nationals system. “Nick is a guy who has nasty stuff. Over the course of his career, you see it come together. Starts like tonight show that.”

Although Pivetta made no decision when the Sox bullpen blew the 2-1 lead he had entrusted to him, he delivered a powerful performance that gave his team the time it needed to walk away with a victory.

Against an impressive lineup, Pivetta allowed one run on four hits in six innings while allowing nine strikeouts and just one walk. In his last three starts, Pivetta has been as good as he has been in months, allowing just four runs (2.00 ERA) in 18 innings with 21 strikeouts and five walks. Wednesday’s performance was another milestone in a career with the Sox in which Pivetta was usually at his best in the home stretch, posting a 3.34 ERA after Sept. 1.

“He always finishes strong,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’ll do it again.”

Pivetta has never been a top pitcher since the Sox signed him as a trade candidate from the Phillies in August 2020. His ERA is 4.32, which is about the league average for a starter during that time.

Still, there is value in a pitcher who can take the ball regularly and make a number of competitive starts while also putting together the occasional dominant performance. He has been a stabilizing presence on a team that few others can claim.

Consider this: Since his debut in September 2020, Pivetta has made 104 starts with the Sox (more than David Price or Curt Schilling) and thrown 616⅔ innings. Since the Sox hoisted their championship trophy in Los Angeles in 2018, only one other pitcher – Tanner Houck (421⅔ innings) – has come close to Pivetta’s workload for the franchise at 200 innings.

At a time when Pivetta is about to become a free agent, Cora took a moment to praise the 31-year-old’s overall performance, particularly his ability to bring his best to the game at a time of year when many pitchers are struggling.

“He’s strong. He can handle the workload. He wants more,” Cora said. “The stuff just keeps getting better throughout the year. He’s constantly making adjustments. He’s very meticulous about it. He knows his mechanics and knows how to use his stuff.”

Pivetta’s late-season strength is remarkable considering how much effort and energy he seems to put into every throw.

At times, he resembles an Olympic hammer thrower more than a pitcher: He doesn’t so much work his way down the mound as leap at the top and then spins toward first base with a momentum that can make it seem as if he’s about to fall out of his shirt at any moment.

These visuals are often accompanied by a soundtrack of grunts and yelps that echoes throughout Fenway Stadium, and that came to fruition Wednesday after a botched pop-up by shortstop Trevor Story found Colton Cowser on a triple with one out at third base.

With the game still scoreless, Pivetta responded with strikeouts of Austin Slater (sweeper) and Jackson Holliday (fastball), leaving the runner on third base standing and crying back to the dugout.

“This is what you live for, a very exciting, thrilling time,” Pivetta said of the late-season setting.

Pivetta’s efforts helped keep the Sox’s unlikely playoff hopes intact, leaving them four games behind the Twins in the wild-card standings — close enough to imagine that the club’s return to action after seven road games against the Yankees and Rays for three games against the Twins could be significant.

“It’s still there,” Cora said of his team’s postseason hopes. “It’s getting harder and harder, but it’s realistic … We just won a series against one of the best teams in the big leagues. But in our situation, obviously, that’s not enough. We have to keep going. We won two series here at home. For some people, that doesn’t feel great. But for us, it does. And now we’re going to New York and (will) try to play good baseball there.”

And if the Sox can do that, they’ll turn to Pivetta next week in Tampa Bay and then again at home against Minnesota, hoping he can channel his competitive spirit in games where postseason play is still at stake.

“He loves competition,” Cora said. “He’s ready for the next one.”

Alex Speier can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @alexspeier.