Tanner Houck’s impressive MLB debut leads Red Sox over Marlins

Tanner Houck’s first career strikeout certainly surprised Jesus Aguilar, who swung and missed at a 96 mph fastball on the outside corner. Aguilar looked around in mild bewilderment before nodding in unexpected approval.

To end the fourth, Houck went to old reliable, his slider. With two runners on, he caught Miguel Rojas looking at strike three to win a tough at-bat, and Rojas was so frustrated with himself that he slammed his bat on the ground.

Talk about a strong first impression.

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s go-ahead RBI double in the sixth pushed the Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday night, but Houck was the story of the night. In his major-league debut, the 24-year-old couldn’t have been much better, as he pitched five shutout innings, allowed just two hits and struck out seven as he picked up his first career victory in one of the best debuts in recent memory.

Jesús Aguilar's face says it all … pretty good pitch from Tanner Houck for his first MLB strikeout! pic.twitter.com/YMOQem7kz0

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 15, 2020

For at least one night, the Red Sox, who have struggled mightily to find quality and just hope in their pitching staff, could dream about a bright future with their 2017 first-round pick.

When his night was over, Houck could be seen by television cameras smiling and high-fiving teammates Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez, the latter of whom tried to calm whatever nerves he might have had before the biggest night of his baseball career.

“To enjoy it, it’s one time major league debut in his career,” Vazquez said before the game of what he would tell Houck before his first start. “That’s the only time you’re going to be the first time in the big leagues, enjoy it. Do your best. Be calm. I think your mind is going to need to breathe because there’s going to be a lot of emotions and be calm and do your thing.”

Houck certainly did his thing, showcasing an electric fastball that topped out at 96 mph and a nasty slider that had made him a Top 10 prospect in the Red Sox’ system. With less than two weeks left in the season and after the Red Sox had sent 14 different starting pitchers through their first 48 games of the season, it made you wonder what took so long for him to get a chance.

Houck’s second pitch was a single to Corey Dickerson, but he got a break when Dickerson inexplicably tried to stretch it into a double, and he was easily thrown out. He retired the side on nine pitches, striking out Aguilar to end the first as he set a strong tone. Houck got in a pair of jams partly due to his three walks, but he got out of them.

In the second, with runners on first and second and two outs, Houck fooled Jazz Chisholm swinging on a slider. He did the same with Rojas in the fourth, sending him back to the Miami dugout looking at a slider. Houck induced nine swings and misses on the night, including five with the slider.

Even with a 1-2-3 fifth inning, Houck’s 24-pitch second may have cost him a chance to come out for the sixth. At 86 pitches, Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke turned to his bullpen after Bradley Jr.’s go-ahead double.

It didn’t take away from a strong opening act for Houck, who had the best debut by a Red Sox pitcher since 2015, when Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 7⅔ scoreless innings and struck out seven. Houck’s seven punchouts were the third-most by a Red Sox starter this season.

At the least, Houck will certainly get a chance to build on his performance for the rest of the season in what should be something of an audition for a spot in the Red Sox’ 2021 rotation. With 11 games to go, he should get at least two more starts. The next one? He would be on regular rest on Sunday for a matchup against the rival Yankees.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3bZsBjG