Tanner Houck Posts One of the Worst Starts in Boston Red Sox Franchise History
BOSTON — In a game that quickly unraveled into a historic disaster, Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck recorded one of the worst starts in the franchise’s storied history on Monday night, sending shockwaves through Fenway Park and across the baseball world. The 27-year-old was tagged for a brutal 11 earned runs in just 2.1 innings, marking a rare and humiliating low point for a team known for its pitching legacy.
The Red Sox fell 15-3 to the visiting Cleveland Guardians, but the score only begins to reflect the chaos. Houck was shelled from the opening pitch, surrendering a barrage of hits, including two home runs and four extra-base hits in the first inning alone. The Fenway crowd, initially hopeful, grew quiet and then openly restless as the outing spiraled into catastrophe.
Statistically, the performance stands among the worst in Boston Red Sox history. Houck became the first Red Sox starter since 1939 to allow 11 earned runs in fewer than three innings pitched. The last time a Boston pitcher gave up double-digit runs in a start at Fenway was over two decades ago — and even that didn’t come close to the pace at which Houck imploded.
Manager Alex Cora was visibly stunned as he approached the mound to pull Houck in the third inning. “That was tough to watch,” Cora said postgame. “We didn’t expect it to go that way. Tanner’s been solid for us, but tonight… everything went wrong.” He declined to speculate on Houck’s next start, citing a need to reassess rotation options going forward.
Houck’s struggles didn’t appear to be injury-related, making the outing all the more concerning. His fastball velocity was consistent with previous starts, but location issues and lack of command left pitches over the heart of the plate. Cleveland batters, seemingly expecting everything, capitalized mercilessly.
Fans took to social media in droves, expressing disbelief and frustration. Many cited the outing as reminiscent of the darkest pitching days of the early 2010s. “It felt like we were watching a spring training experiment gone wrong,” one user tweeted. “Except it was April, and it counted.”
The disastrous performance also had statistical implications beyond personal embarrassment. Houck’s ERA ballooned from 2.14 to 5.23 in a single game, and his WHIP nearly doubled. Analysts pointed out that this could have long-term ramifications on his standing in the rotation and his future with the team.
For Houck, who has been viewed as a promising mid-rotation piece, Monday’s outing could serve as a defining moment. Whether it becomes a cautionary tale or a motivator remains to be seen. “I’ve got to own this one,” Houck said afterward. “I let the team down, plain and simple. But I’ll come back stronger.”
As the Red Sox attempt to regroup and salvage momentum in a competitive AL East, the ripple effects of Houck’s historic collapse will linger. The franchise, its fans, and Houck himself will be looking closely at how he responds — because in Boston, redemption is never guaranteed.