Red Sox
“I take pride in going deeper into games, and I wanted to give us the best chance to win today. I didn’t do that.”
Tanner Houck’s 28th birthday didn’t quite go as planned Saturday.
The Red Sox’ starting pitcher tossed his shortest start all season (4 1/3 innings), allowing a career-high three home runs and eight runs total to the San Diego Padres. Houck virtually handed the Padres a win — and the series — in his worst start of the year.
He entered the day having given up just two home runs through 16 starts in 2024. Houck hadn’t allowed a homer since June 6; prior to that, he hadn’t given one up since April 12, his third start of the season.
Saturday also marked the first time Houck has allowed more than four earned runs in a single start this year.
After Boston’s 11-1 loss, the righty talked to reporters about what went wrong in his latest appearance.
“Just left too many pitches middle-middle,” Houck said. “Other than that, just kind of sucked.”
Houck recorded four strikeouts Saturday, his fewest in a game since May 10. However, he lasted seven innings and allowed three runs in that appearance compared to his latest start, in which he couldn’t get past the fifth and was tagged for seven earned.
In 17 starts, Houck has tossed at least six full innings in 13 of those outings. He said his goal is to pitch as far into games as possible, something he couldn’t accomplish Saturday.
“All year, I take pride in going deeper into games, and I wanted to give us the best chance to win today. I didn’t do that,” Houck said. “Doesn’t define me now, doesn’t define me in the future. … Get back out there in the next outing and put this one behind.”
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