What Alex Cora said of Richard Fitts’s shoulder injury after getting pulled from Red Sox’ loss to White Sox

Red Sox

Fitts pitched five scoreless innings before being pulled in Chicago.

Richard Fitts’s strong start on Saturday ended abruptly against the Chicago White Sox.

After pitching five scoreless innings and helping the Red Sox take control of a 2-0 lead, Fitts was pulled due to what Boston called “right shoulder pain,” according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

Fitts’s early exit turned costly, as the White Sox scored three runs on Boston’s relief pitchers and beat the Red Sox, 3-2.

“He’s going to Boston tomorrow and we’ll see where we’re at,” Alex Cora said of Fitts following the loss. “He’s going to get an MRI on Monday and we’ll go from there.”

Boston took a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the fifth inning when Ceddanne Rafaela drove home a run with a triple before touching home plate courtesy of a Rob Refsnyder RBI. The lead didn’t last long though; Chicago answered with two runs at the bottom of the sixth frame before securing a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Fitts has been a key cog in the Red Sox’ starting rotation to start the season. Pitchers Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello began the season on Boston’s injured list, and Fitts has taken on starting pitching duties in their absence.

Fitts has faired well in his absence, though he’s yet to record a win to show for it. He has 13 strikeouts in three starts and owns an ERA of 3.18.

The Red Sox have dealt with problems with the backend of their rotation due to their injuries; both Fitts and Sean Newcomb — who performed poorly in Friday’s loss to Chicago — have benefited from solidified starting roles in Bello and Giolito’s absence.

Fitts is one of Boston’s top pitching prospects, and thrived at the end of last season once the Red Sox fell out of playoff contention. He benefited from the Red Sox’ lack of pitching depth in Spring Training to solidify his role with the Red Sox.

Both Bello and Giolito have taken rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester, but if neither is able to return before Fitts’s next scheduled start, Boston will find itself piecing together starting pitching outings less than a month into the season.

Following their loss Saturday, the Red Sox have officially lost their series to the White Sox. The final game is set for Sunday with a first pitch set for 2:10 p.m.