Pitcher Richard Fitts has had a historically good start to his Major League career. Unfortunately for the Boston Red Sox, the American League team has been unable to capitalize on the almost unmatched start of the former Helena High School and Auburn star player.

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

Curiously, this feat was accomplished for the first time last year. Andrew Abbott pitched 17.2 innings as the Cincinnati Reds’ starting pitcher in his first three MLB games on June 5, 10 and 16, 2023, without allowing a single earned run.

Abbott received better support than Fitts. Abbott has been the winning pitcher in each of his starts, while Fitts has three no-decisions.

Eight other players since 1912 began their major league careers by pitching at least 15 innings in their first three games without allowing a run. But they did not pitch at least five innings in every game.

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

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

On Friday night, Fitts again pitched five scoreless innings, opening a 4-2 loss in 12 innings to the Minnesota Twins.

In 15.2 innings for the Red Sox, Fitts has seven strikeouts and allowed 13 hits and five walks.

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