Former Auburn pitcher makes Boston Red Sox history

Pitcher Richard Fitts has gotten off to a historically good start in his Major League career. Unfortunately for the Boston Red Sox, the American League team hasn't taken advantage of the former Helena High School and Auburn standout's almost unmatched beginning.

On Friday night, Fitts became the second Major League player to pitch at least five innings without allowing an earned run in each of his first three big-league games since earned runs became an official statistic in 1912.

Oddly, the feat was done for the first time last year. Andrew Abbott pitched 17.2 innings as the Cincinnati Reds' starting pitcher in his first three MLB games without giving up any earned runs on June 5, 10 and 16, 2023.

Abbott got better support than Fitts. Abbott was the winning pitcher in each of his starts while Fitts has three no-decisions to show for his efforts.

Eight other players since 1912 have started their big-league careers by pitching at least 15 innings during their first three games without giving up a run. But they did not pitch at least five innings in each game.

In his MLB debut, Fitts worked the first 5.2 innings of a 7-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 8. The White Sox scored two unearned runs in the sixth after the leadoff batter reached on an error.

On Sept. 13, Fitts worked five scoreless innings in a 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees.

On Friday night, Fitts again worked five scoreless innings to open a 4-2, 12-inning loss to the Minnesota Twins.

In 15.2 innings for the Red Sox, Fitts has struck out seven while yielding 13 hits and five walks.

Fitts joined Boston from the Worcester Red Sox of the Triple-A International League. He posted a 9-5 record with a 4.15 earned-run average in 116.2 innings for the WoSox.

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The New York Yankees drafted Fitts in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. In three seasons at Auburn, Fitts had a 6-6 record in 40 games, with 14 starts. He had a 5.23 ERA in 117 innings with the Tigers.

Fitts became a full-time starter in 2022 and has made only one relief appearance across the past three seasons.

Fitts came to the Red Sox during an offseason trade in which the Yankees obtained outfielder Alex Verdugo.