BREAKING: Tanner Houck Admits Harsh Truth After Terrible Outing Against Tampa Bay
On Monday night, the Boston Red Sox endured their most lopsided loss of the season, falling 16-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the series opener.
Tampa Bay wasted no time getting ahead, scoring five runs in the first two innings. Then came a disastrous third inning where the Rays put up nine more, jumping out to a 14-1 lead that effectively sealed the game early.
Boston starter Tanner Houck had a rough outing, delivering one of the worst performances Red Sox fans have witnessed in recent memory. The 28-year-old lasted just 2.1 innings, surrendering 10 hits, 11 earned runs, and issuing two walks on 61 pitches.
The poor showing dropped Houck’s record to 0-2 with a 9.16 ERA, and the opponent only added to the frustration — this wasn’t the first time the Rays had his number. In a March 22nd Spring Training start against Tampa Bay, Houck gave up 12 hits and 10 earned runs over 3.2 innings, also walking two.
Unfortunately, Monday’s game wasn’t an isolated incident. Aside from a solid start against Toronto on April 9 — where he allowed just one earned run across 6.2 innings in a 2-1 extra-inning loss — Houck has struggled. In his other two starts, he allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs over 9.2 innings against the Rangers and Orioles.
After the game, Houck reflected briefly on what was likely the worst performance of his six-year career.
“Plain and simple — it wasn’t good. I’ll regroup, come back tomorrow, and work through it. No point in overthinking it right now.”
It’s a frustrating start to the season for Houck, who made the All-Star team last year and posted a 3.12 ERA across 30 starts. While early-season slumps are common, his recent outings have Red Sox fans wondering if he’s lost his form.
Manager Alex Cora commented that Houck’s pitches were too easy to hit and frequently landed in the heart of the strike zone. He also pointed to the team’s poor defense — Boston leads MLB with 20 errors — as another contributing factor.
“They really made him pay for pitches left over the heart of the plate. Sure, a few got through, but overall, we didn’t back him up defensively either. They had a solid game plan and took some quality swings.”
With the rotation already dealing with injuries, the Red Sox are relying heavily on arms like Houck and Walker Buehler to keep them competitive in the AL East. The offense has its own share of struggles, and Monday’s blowout may have marked a low point for the team early in the season.
Boston turns to Buehler in Tuesday night’s game, hoping he can deliver a steadier performance and help the Red Sox rebound from Monday’s debacle.