Tanner Houck Dominates As Red Sox Blank Guardians

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong is congratulated for his solo home run off Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Pho

Tanner Houck delivered a stellar performance on Wednesday night, pitching a three-hitter with nine strikeouts to secure Boston's first complete-game shutout at Fenway Park in nearly seven years. The Red Sox emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

The game's first run came in the third inning when Boston capitalized on a balk by Cleveland starter Ben Lively. Connor Wong then extended the lead with a solo home run in the fourth.

Houck, in his first career complete game, threw 69 of his 94 pitches for strikes, achieving this feat in just 1 hour and 49 minutes. This remarkable speed made it the fastest nine-inning game in the majors since 2010.

Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Houck expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the team's success, emphasizing that it was one of those rare nights where everything felt right on the mound.

Red Sox win 2-0 with runs from balk and Wong's homer.

Houck's stellar pitching: 3-hitter, 9 strikeouts.

Fastest MLB game since 2010: 1 hour, 49 minutes.

Houck's first career complete game with no walks.

Houck's ERA drops to 1.35 after impressive performance.

Guardians manager praises Houck's dominance on the mound.

Last Red Sox complete-game shutout at Fenway Park was in 2017.

Cleveland's Lively makes solid debut despite loss.

Teams set to conclude series with Carrasco vs. TBD pitcher.

Roster moves made due to injuries for both teams.

The 27-year-old right-hander walked none and fell just short of his season-high strikeout count. With this performance, he lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.35 after four starts in the season.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged Houck's dominance, praising his precision and effectiveness on the mound. He commended the pitcher for not allowing any easy opportunities for the opposing team.

Notably, this marked Boston's first complete-game shutout since 2022, with the last such performance at Fenway Park dating back to 2017.

On the offensive side, Wong's home run off Lively was a key moment in the game. Vogt lauded Lively's performance as well, highlighting his solid outing despite the loss.

Lively, making his Guardians debut, expressed enthusiasm about facing off against Houck and the competitive spirit it ignited within him.

Looking ahead, the teams are set to conclude their four-game series on Thursday. Cleveland will send RHP Carlos Carrasco to the mound, while Boston's starting pitcher was yet to be announced at the time of reporting.

Both teams also made roster moves due to injuries, with players being placed on the injured list and replacements being called up from the minors.

With the series outcome still uncertain, Boston manager Alex Cora emphasized the importance of securing a win in the upcoming game to maintain their position in the standings.