Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. 2017 1st round draft pick Tanner Houck has been called up from the Alternate Training Site to pitch tonight's game against the Miami Marlins. Andrew Triggs was placed on the Injured List to make room for Tanner. The 24 year old has to show something if the Sox want the rebuild to go a lot easier for next season. Jonathan Lucroy was also given his release without ever having an official at-bat. Oh well.
The bad news was the Boston Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their NBA East Finals series but the Boston Red Sox defeated the Miami Marlins. The 2020 season is a washout but nights like tonight make it worth it to suffer through. A glimmer of hope had emerged from the ashes of this disaster, Tanner Houck (1-0, 0.00 ERA). The Red Sox first round pick back in 17 lived up to his billing but tossing 5 shutout innings in his big leagues debut. He allowed just 2 hits while striking out 7 batters. Hopefully this will be the first of many wins in the big leagues for Tanner. The Sox offense was held in check by Miami starter Sandy Alcantara until they took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Dylan Covey, Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes preserved the shutout to make Houck a winner in his debut 2-0 at Marlins Park.
Alcantara got Alex Verdugo to fly out to left to start the top of the first inning. Rafael Devers whiffed but Xander Bogaerts got a base hit to third. JD Martinez lined out to left to end the inning. Tanner Houck made his MLB debut in the bottom of the first and Corey Dickerson singled to left. Yairo Munoz gunned down Dickerson at second trying to stretch a double. Starling Marte lined out to right and Jesus Aguilar whiffed to end the inning, welcome to the big leagues Tanner.
Christian Vazquez grounded out to second to start the top of the second before Jackie Bradley Jr lined out to right. Bobby Dalbec whiffed to end the inning. Houck whiffed Matt Joyce to start the bottom of the second before Brian Anderson also went down hacking. Garrett Cooper singled to center and Miguel Rojas walked, but Jazz Chisholm struck out swinging to end the inning.
Christian Arroyo grounded out to short to start the top of the third before Munoz grounded out to second. Verdugo singled to left bvut Devers flied out to center to end the inning. Houck cruised in the bottom of the third as Jorge Alfaro struck out swinging to start. Dickerson lined out to short and Marte grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Alcantara cruised in the top of the fourth as Bogaerts grounded out to short to start. Martinez whiffed and Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning. Aguilar flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth before Joyce walked. Anderson whiffed but Cooper walked. Rojas was rung up for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth as JBJ grounded back to the mound to start. Dalbec singled to second and Arroyo walked, but Munoz whiffed. Verdugo flied out to center to end the inning. Houck hung tough in the bottom of the fifth as Chisholm grounded out to first to start. Alfaro flied out to right and Dickerson grounded out to first to end the inning. Houck had thrown 5 shutout innings on 86 pitches, great MLB debut.
The Sox managed to take the lead for Houck as Devers whiffed to start the top of the sixth. Bogaerts singled to left but Martinez lined out to center. Vazquez walked and JBJ doubled home Xander to give the Sox the lead. Dalbec flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Dylan Covey came in for the bottom of the sixth and did well. Marte grounded out to first, Aguilar lined out to left and Joyce lined out to left to end the inning.
Richard Bleier came in for the top of the seventh and the Sox beat the ball in the dirt. Arroyo grounded out to short, Munoz grounded out to short and Verdugo grounded out to first to end the inning. Covey struck out Anderson swinging to start the bottom of the seventh before Cooper also took strike three. Rojas grounded out to third to end the inning, good work Covey.
The Sox got some insurance in the top of the eighth when Devers doubled to right to begin. James Hoyt came in and struck out Bogaerts but for some reason decided to intentionally walk Martinez to get to Vazquez. Christian responded with a base hit to center to score Devers with the big run. Ryan Stanek came in to strike out both Bradley and Dalbec swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Ryan Brasier took over for the bottom of the eighth and Chisholm lined out to left to start. Alfaro struck out swinging but Dickerson singled to left. Marte grounded into a force to end the inning.
Johan Quezada came in for the top of the ninth and Arroyo walked to start. Munoz whiffed and Verdugo banged into a double play to end the inning. Matt Barnes came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Aguilar flied out to center to start. Joyce grounded out to first but Anderson doubled to center. Cooper whiffed to end the game. The Sox had won it for Houck 2-0.
Hero of the Night is Tanner Houck. The rookie won his ML debut with 5 shutout innings while allowing just 2 hits and striking out 7 batters.
The Good:
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Christian Arroyo walked twice in four plate appearances.
Dylan Covey tossed 2 scoreless innings.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Matt Barnes earned his 7th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 5.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
JD Martinez was 0 for 3 but walked.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Bobby Dalbec was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Yairo Munoz was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but threw out a runner at second from the outfield.
Final Thoughts:
Finally a ray of hope for the future has emerged. Sox GM Chaim Bloom has managed to flip expiring contracts and aging veterans for a bunch of prospects and the Sox could be loading up to make a big trade in the off-season. If Tanner Houck is the real deal, the Sox rebuild could take A LOT sooner than later. Houck, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez would actually be a decent rotation and the Sox could make some trades or sign some free agents to shore up the bullpen. Darwinzon Hernandez would be a valuable weapon out of the bullpen, he'd just need some help if the Sox decide Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes aren't part of the future. As for this game, that was a gutsy win considering the offense did almost nothing. Houck looked great but so did Dylan Covey for once. Most Sox fans want the Sox lose every game so they have a shot at Kumar Rocker but hey, if Tanner Houck is any good, they can settle for a different player in the draft. There's only 11 games left but now the Sox fans have something to look forward to if Houck gets another start and if Nick Pivetta is activated. The win improved the Sox to 18-31, last place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Marlins tomorrow evening when they send Mike Kickham (1-0, 5.00 ERA) to the mound against Trevor Rogers of the Marlins. The game begins at 6:40 PM at Marlins Park.
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