Tanner Houck delivered a masterful performance on the mound, pitching a three-hit shutout to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday.
Houck, who improved his record to 3-1, was in top form as he struck out nine batters without issuing a single walk. This stellar outing marked the first complete game of Houck’s career and also represented the first solo shutout by a Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha’s gem against the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022.
The contest was efficiently played, lasting just 1 hour and 49 minutes, a testament to the dominance of both pitchers.
Despite being limited to just five hits, the Red Sox managed to generate enough offense to secure the win. Connor Wong led the offensive charge with two hits, including a home run, while Jarren Duran also contributed with a pair of hits.
On the other side, Guardians starter Ben Lively (0-1) battled through five innings, surrendering two runs on three hits in a solid effort, but ultimately took the loss in the tightly contested matchup.