San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta was forced to exit Sunday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning after what appeared to be an arm injury sidelined him from play.
The right-hander had been dealing effectively through the early innings, getting out the first nine batters he encountered, including four strikeouts. Pivetta delivered a 92-mph fastball to batter Edouard Julien that evened the count to 2-2 when the fourth inning began, but team manager Craig Stammen and medical personnel immediately made their way to the pitcher’s mound following that throw.
Following a quick discussion on the field, Pivetta departed the game and headed straight through the tunnel toward San Diego’s locker room area, holding his hand over his mouth as he exited the field.
Relief pitcher Kyle Hart stepped in to replace Pivetta and successfully got out all three batters he faced, maintaining San Diego’s 2-0 advantage through three and a half innings. However, Colorado managed to score twice off Hart during the fifth inning, narrowing the gap to 3-2.
Through four appearances this season, Pivetta carries a 1-2 win-loss record along with a 4.50 earned run average.
Meanwhile, Colorado faced their own pitching complications when their planned starter, left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland, was pulled during warm-ups due to what the team described as soreness in his left posterior shoulder.
