Tanner Houck pitches 3-hit shutout for Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) — Tanner Houck pitched three batters with nine strikeouts for Boston’s first complete game shutout at Fenway Park in nearly seven years, and the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Connor Wong homered in the fourth, an inning after Boston scored its first run on a groundout by Cleveland starter Ben Lively.

Houck (3-1) walked without a walk in his first career complete game, which lasted just an hour and 49 minutes. He finished one point shy of his season high in strikeouts.

It was Boston’s first complete game shutout since Michael Wacha threw a three-hitter in a 1–0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022. No pitcher had accomplished the home feat for the Red Sox since Brian Johnson threw a five-hitter against Seattle on May 27, 2017.

Wong beat Lively (0-1) with two outs in the fourth.

Lively, making his debut with the Guardians after signing as a free agent in December and then starting the season on the injured list with a viral illness, was called for hesitation at third with runners on second and third . It was the first loss against the right-hander since his 2017 rookie season with Philadelphia.

After leaving Tuesday’s game with left knee discomfort, Rafael Devers was in Boston’s lineup at designated hitter rather than third base. He went hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts.

Steven Kwan was 0 for 4 for Cleveland, ending his eight-game hitting streak.

TRAINERS ROOM

Guards: RHP Eli Morgan was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. RHP Wes Parsons has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock went on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. He left Tuesday night’s game against Cleveland after four innings. LHP Joe Jacques was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take Whitlock’s place on the roster.

FOLLOWING

The teams finish their four-game series Thursday. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 3.55 ERA) is expected to start for Cleveland. In nine career appearances against the Red Sox, including seven starts, he is 1-4 with an 8.29 ERA.

Boston had not yet announced a starting pitcher.