Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) — Tanner Houck pitched a three-hitter 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 hit a house run within the fourth inning, an inning after Boston scored its first run on a block by Cleveland starter Ben Lively.
Houck (3-1) didn't rating a single goal in his first full game of his profession, which lasted just 1 hour and 49 minutes. He finished the season only one point shy of his season high for strikeouts.
It was Boston's first full-game shutout since Michael Wacha hit a three-pointer in a 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022. No pitcher had achieved this feat at home for the Red Sox since Brian Johnson's five-hitter against Seattle on May 27, 2017.
Wong struck out Lively (0-1) with two outs within the fourth.
Lively, who made his Guardians debut after signing as a free agent in December after which began the season on the injured list with a viral illness, was called for a suspension within the third with runners on second and third. It was the right-hander's first opposition since his 2017 rookie season with Philadelphia.
After Rafael Devers left Tuesday's game with left knee discomfort, he was in Boston's lineup as designated hitter moderately than third base. He went hitless in 4 at-bats and three strikeouts.
Steven Kwan was 0-for-4 for Cleveland, ending his eight-game hitting streak.
TRAINING ROOM
Guardians: RHP Eli Morgan was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. RHP Wes Parsons was called up from Triple-A Columbus.
Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock went on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. He exited Tuesday night's start against Cleveland after 4 innings. LHP Joe Jacques was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take Whitlock's place on the roster.
NEXT
The teams complete their four-game series on Thursday. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 3.55 ERA) is scheduled to begin for Cleveland. In nine profession appearances against the Red Sox, including seven starts, he’s 1-4 with an 8.29 ERA.
Boston had not yet announced a starting pitcher.
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