Game 9: Richard Fitts set to give it another twirl in second game of Red Sox-Cardinals series

The Red Sox survived a bit of an adventure in the ninth inning of their first game of the season at Fenway Park on Friday.

They entered the ninth with a 13-6 lead, then gave up three runs and saw the tying run come to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. A double play ended the threat and capped a 13-9 victory.

On Saturday afternoon, righthander Richard Fitts is scheduled for his second start of the season for Boston. Fitts, 25, held the Rangers scoreless for five innings in his first start, but then allowed two home runs en route to a 3-2 loss .

“He was really good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Two homers, obviously. That happened in the sixth. But overall, he gave us a chance to win. He has been doing that for a while. He has been throwing excellent.”

Saturday will be Fitts’s sixth career major league start and his first against St. Louis.

Lineups

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Stat of the day: Seven Red Sox had multiple hits in Friday’s victory , led by three from right fielder Wilyer Abreu.

Notes: The Cardinals have continued to swing the bat well despite taking their third loss in four games on Friday. They posted double-digit hits and at least four runs for the seventh consecutive game to begin the season. ... After posting the lowest ERA among Cardinals who worked at least 100 innings in 2024 (his first time as a regular starter), Andre Pallante (1-0, 3.60) will look to start this season with a second straight win after dealing five innings of two-run ball last Sunday in a 9-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins. ... Pallante, 26, lost his only career start against the Red Sox on June 19, 2022, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Information from Stats Inc., and Field Level Media was used in this report.