ANAHEIM – (Staff and Wire Service Report) The Boston Red Sox will send right-hander Richard Fitts to the mound Wednesday afternoon when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the final contest of a three-game series.
It will be Fitts’ second career start against the Angels, and he’s undoubtedly hoping it turns out better than his first one.
Fitts (0-3, 4.71 ERA) took the loss when Los Angeles beat host Boston 7-6 on June 2. The Angels hit three home runs during a six-run first inning that night. Fitts exited the game after recording three outs on 39 pitches. He allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits and walked one.
Zach Neto, Mike Trout and Jo Adell hit the first-inning home runs.
Fitts was sent to Triple-A Worcester following that performance. He gave up seven earned runs on 15 hits in 12 innings for Worcester, and was recalled to Boston on Sunday after the Red Sox placed right-hander Hunter Dobbins (strained elbow) on the 15-day injured list.
“I was really focused on what I needed to work on, and the build-up was a big part of that,” Fitts told MassLive. “I was redefining my shapes of my pitches and it feels really good. I feel really confident and feel like I’m in a really good spot.
“I’m here to do whatever they need me to do. I want to pitch and help the team win.”
Fitts will try to prevent the Angels from sweeping the Red Sox. Los Angeles prevailed 9-5 on Monday and won 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
Christian Moore, the eighth overall pick in last July’s MLB draft, hit two home runs for Los Angeles in Tuesday’s win, which extended Boston’s losing streak to four games. The Angels have a 4-1 record against the Red Sox this season.
Boston is 9-19 in one-run games and 5-9 in extra-inning games. The Red Sox are winless in six extra-inning road games.
“Losing is not fun,” Boston shortstop Trevor Story said. “Winning is fun. We have half the season to play, so to this point we’ve been one game under (.500). I think that’s the frustrating part, is we know how good we can be. We’ve shown flashes of that, but you have to find a way to do it on a more consistent basis.
“We’re gonna stay positive about it,” Story continued. “We’re not gonna give up, I know that. We know the type of team we have and I feel good about us showing that in the second half.”
Neto, the Angels’ starting shortstop, left Tuesday’s game after making an error in the ninth inning. Los Angeles bench coach Ray Montgomery said Neto jammed his right shoulder during a stolen base attempt in the eighth inning.
“It’s feeling good,” Neto said. “I mean, it’s not great. But you know, we’re gonna see how I feel (Wednesday) morning, and hopefully — hopefully — you know, I come (in) feeling great, and be back in the lineup.”
Lefty Yusei Kikuchi (2-6, 3.01) is Los Angeles’ probable starter Wednesday. Kikuchi is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over 10 career appearances against Boston. He allowed three runs in five innings when the Angels beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings on June 3.
–Field Level Media