Red Sox Notes: Boston Stumbles After Richard Fitts’ Strong MLB Debut

The Boston Red Sox called upon Richard Fitts, the main prospect return in last December's Alex Verdugo trade with the New York Yankees, to take the mound for his MLB debut Sunday.

Tanner Houck got his start pushed back opened the door for the 24-year-old to start at Fenway Park. The Red Sox could not hold on after Fitts' departure, but the rookie did his job on the mound in a 6-2 Boston loss.

The Boston right-hander went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs (neither) earned on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.

"It was pretty crazy," Fitts told reporters, per NESN's postgame coverage. "I found yesterday that it was a possibility that I would start today. I immediately started calling everybody. ... I didn't feel like I had my best stuff out there. I think that's very encouraging to feel that way because I feel like if I do have my best stuff that I can compete with anybody. It was a lot of fun. Ultimately, I wanna do anything I can to help the team win."

The Red Sox righty described a "special day" that welcomed 20 people in the stands to cheer him on, from friends and family to his former coaches.

Fitts also impressed his manager with his baseball IQ outside of just throwing strikes, making a pair of key plays defensively for the Red Sox.

"There were two things that he did today that tell me he's gonna be a good big-leaguer," Alex Cora told reporters, per NESN's postgame coverage. "The pickoff, Ramon (Vazquez) put it on. He was patient, waited and got the guy out at first. The ground ball, first and third one out. There's a lot of big-leaguers would panic in that situation. Catch it and run the guy out at third and don't turn the double play. He didn't hesitate, went to second and Trevor (Story) turned the double play. Those two plays tell me where he's at mentally. He knows what he needs to do to compete at this level. Stuff was really good."

"I think they're huge," Fitts said. "The double play comes to mind. I'm out there trying to get an out."

Fitts did not earn a win in his debut, but he did show that his depth is immediately ready to help the Red Sox.

"I'm really honored to be a Red Sox today and hopefully for a long time," Fitts said.

Here are more notes from Sunday's White Sox-Red Sox game:

-- With the loss, the Red Sox will not gain ground on the Minnesota Twins on Sunday for the final American League playoff spot. Boston entered the day trailing Minnesota by four games for the final spot.

-- With wins on Friday and Saturday, the Red Sox earned their first series win since Aug. 19-21 against the Houston Astros.

-- The Red Sox made two more errors on Sunday and still lead the sport as the only team with over 100 errors in MLB this season.

-- Boston fell to 25-21 in series finales.

-- The Red Sox begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday at Fenway Park. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. You can catch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.