BOSTON — Red Sox’ Richard Fitts has pitched well as a big leaguer with a 3.31 ERA, but it took him until his 12th start to finally record a win.
“I’ve been waiting a while for it,” Fitts said.
He got it Monday, tossing 5 ⅔ strong innings in a 9-3 victory over the Rockies at Fenway Park.
“I’ve got the lineup card for tonight so I’m happy with that,” Fitts said, smiling.
The Red Sox lost Fitts’ first 10 starts spanning from his MLB debut Sept. 8 until his June 25 start at Anaheim.
Boston finally pulled out a victory in his 11th start, a 5-3 win over Cincinnati last week. However, Fitts received a no-decision after pitching 3 innings before a rain delay. The game resumed the next day after being suspended.
“This is a big accomplishment for me but hopefully it’s the first of many,” he said.
Per the Red Sox, Fitts is one of 65 Red Sox pitchers all-time to not record a winning decision in his first 11 career appearances — and he’s the only member of that group with at least nine of those 11 appearances being starts.
“I think we’re gonna get it framed up,” Fitts said about the lineup card. “I’ve got my debut scorecard and I might take my jersey with me (from this one), too, and have some fun with it.”
He hasn’t hung up his debut lineup card yet.
“Whenever I have a man cave, I’ll put it in there,” he said.
The 25-year-old righty allowed three runs (two earned runs), five hits and one walk while striking out six in his 5 ⅔ innings.
Fitts’ 33 four-seam fastballs averaged 96.8 mph, up from an average of 95.6 mph this season. He topped out at 97.9 mph.
“Good velocity, mixing up the offspeed pitches,” manager Alex Cora said.
He recorded 14 swings and misses: eight on his 35 sliders, five with his four-seam fastball and one with his curveball.
“He’s been good for us. Really good,” Cora said. “Gives us a chance to win almost every time.”
Fitts has had an up-and-down season. He made the Opening Day rotation and allowed six runs in 17 innings (3.18 ERA) over three starts.
He then landed on the injured list April 13 with a right pectoral strain and missed 40 games. Boston rushed him back without a rehab assignment because it was in need of a starting pitcher after a doubleheader.
He struggled in his second start back. The Red Sox demoted him to Triple-A Worcester on June 3, then recalled him June 22 when Hunter Dobbins landed on the IL with a right elbow strain.
“It’s felt like a roller coaster,” Fitts said. “I feel like I’m on an uphill climb and then all of a sudden hit an obstacle. But I feel like I’m in a good spot right now. And all the work I’ve been putting in this year I think is building. And it’s just gonna get better as we keep going.”
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