The Boston Red Sox suffered a 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers, with starting pitcher Tanner Houck giving up a three-run lead in the fourth inning and continuing to struggle throughout the game. Over his last six outings, Houck has an ERA of 5.87, allowing four or more runs in each of his last three starts. Despite the poor performance, manager Alex Cora believes Houck threw well overall and made progress in certain areas. Houck admitted to making costly mistakes with two pitches resulting in two home runs, but also emphasized his improved accuracy in the game.
The damage extended to the sixth inning, prompting Cora to turn to the bullpen. While Houck acknowledged the disappointing outcome of allowing six runs over five-plus innings, he highlighted his high percentage of strikes and first-pitch strikes as signs of improvement. Although the statistics may not reflect it, Houck believes he made strides in the right direction during the game.
Despite the loss, the Red Sox are not concerned about Houck’s performance and remain optimistic about his potential moving forward. However, with only one win in his last eight starts, there may be reason for the team to pay closer attention to his development on the mound.
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