Red Sox's Tanner Houck Leads Shutout Over Guardians

Tanner Houck delivered a masterful performance on the mound, pitching a three-hit shutout to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians, ending their two-game skid.

Houck’s (3-1) dominant outing included nine strikeouts without issuing a single walk, marking a significant milestone as he notched the first complete game of his career. His stellar display also marked the first solo shutout by a Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha achieved the feat against the Los Angeles Angels back in June 2022.

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The contest, characterized by efficient pitching and swift gameplay, concluded in a remarkably brisk one hour and 49 minutes, underscoring the pitchers’ command and the teams’ focused approach.

While the Red Sox offense was relatively subdued, managing just five hits, the contributions of Connor Wong, who blasted a homer, and Jarren Duran, who delivered two hits, proved pivotal in securing the victory. Guardians starter Ben Lively (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits across five innings.

In other MLB action:

Mariners 5, Reds 1: Seattle completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds behind a stellar pitching performance from Bryce Miller and a trio of relievers, who combined to allow just one hit. Home runs from Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver, and Josh Rojas powered the Mariners to victory, outscoring the Reds 17-5 over the series. Elly De La Cruz provided the lone run for the Reds with a solo shot. Andrew Abbott (1-2) suffered the loss for Cincinnati.

Mets 9, Pirates 1: New York Mets secured a convincing win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, completing a three-game sweep behind a strong pitching effort led by Luis Severino. Starling Marte and Harrison Bader led the offensive charge for the Mets with two-run homers, while Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo chipped in with two-run singles. The Pirates managed just one run off Bryan Reynolds’ infield single. Mets starter Bryan Reynolds (1-1) earned the win, while Bailey Falter (1-1) took the loss for the Pirates.

Orioles 4, Twins 2: Cedric Mullins played the hero for the Baltimore Orioles, launching a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a thrilling victory over the Minnesota Twins and complete a three-game sweep. Baltimore starter Albert Suarez delivered a stellar performance in his first major league outing in over six years, tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings. Craig Kimbrel (3-0) notched the win for the Orioles, who extended their home run streak to five games. Austin Martin and Kyle Farmer provided the offense for the Twins. Griffin Jax (1-2) suffered the loss for Minnesota.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4: The New York Yankees staged a dramatic ninth-inning rally to overcome the Toronto Blue Jays, with Aaron Judge delivering the go-ahead runs with a clutch single. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton each contributed solo homers for the Yankees, while Daulton Varsho led the Blue Jays’ offense with two home runs and three RBIs. Former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman delivered a solid performance for the Yankees, allowing just two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Kevin Gausman started for the Blue Jays, pitching five innings of one-run ball before the bullpen faltered late in the game.

These matchups showcased the competitive fervor and excitement of MLB action, with standout performances and thrilling moments capturing the essence of America’s pastime.