MLB roundup: Red Sox's Tanner Houck blanks Guardians

 

[April 18, 2024]  Tanner Houck pitched a three-hit shutout to help the Boston Red Sox end a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday.

Houck (3-1) struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. It was the first complete game of Houck's career and the first shutout by a solo Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha blanked the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022.

The game lasted just 1 hour, 49 minutes.

The Red Sox were limited to five hits, two from Connor Wong (including a homer) and two from Jarren Duran. Guardians starter Ben Lively (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in five innings.

Mariners 5, Reds 1

Bryce Miller and three relievers combined on a one-hitter as Seattle defeated visiting Cincinnati to complete a three-game sweep.

Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Josh Rojas hit solo home runs for the Mariners, who outscored Cincinnati 17-5 in the three games. Miller (3-1) tossed six innings and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven.

Elly De La Cruz went deep for the Reds' lone run and hit. Andrew Abbott (1-2) yielded two runs in six innings.

Mets 9, Pirates 1

Luis Severino and three relievers combined on a five-hitter for host New York, which beat Pittsburgh to complete a three-game sweep.

Starling Marte and Harrison Bader both hit two-run homers while Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo each had two-run singles for the Mets, who have won 10 of 13. Severino (2-1) gave up an unearned run on five hits over six innings.

Bryan Reynolds delivered a run-scoring infield single for the Pirates, who have lost six of eight. Pirates starter Bailey Falter (1-1) allowed two runs in five innings.
 

Orioles 4, Twins 2

Cedric Mullins crushed a 1-2 pitch for a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Baltimore a three-game sweep of visiting Minnesota.

Baltimore starter Albert Suarez threw 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only three hits, in his first major league outing in more than six years. Craig Kimbrel (3-0) got the win for the Orioles, who hit three homers for the fifth game in a row.

Austin Martin and Kyle Farmer each drove in a run for the Twins. Griffin Jax (1-2) took the loss.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4

Aaron Judge singled in the go-ahead runs in a four-run ninth inning as visiting New York rallied to defeat Toronto.

The Yankees came back from a 4-1 deficit to salvage the finale of a three-game series and end a three-game losing streak. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton hit solo homers for the Yankees. Right-hander Marcus Stroman, a former Blue Jay, allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Daulton Varsho had two home runs and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who had a four-game winning streak halted and finished 6-3 on their homestand. Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman pitched five innings of one-run ball.

Giants 3, Marlins 1

Keaton Winn pitched six strong innings to earn his second major league victory as San Francisco got past host Miami.

Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. He also singled and scored when San Francisco went ahead for good in the seventh inning.

Bryan De La Cruz homered for the Marlins, who have lost six straight series to open the season.

Rangers 5, Tigers 4

Josh Smith's pinch-hit double scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as visiting Texas edged Detroit.

Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim drove in two runs apiece for the Rangers. Kirby Yates (2-0) pitched the last 1 1/3 innings for the win. Starter Dane Dunning lasted five-plus innings and allowed two runs, one earned.

Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows homered for the Tigers. Shelby Miller (3-1) took the loss in relief after allowing one run on two hits in the ninth.

Brewers 1, Padres 0

Blake Perkins drove in the game's only run with an eighth-inning single to lead Milwaukee past visiting San Diego.

It was a bullpen day for the Brewers. Bryse Wilson got the start and threw 3 2/3 shutout innings, and Bryan Hudson followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Elvis Peguero then added a scoreless inning before Abner Uribe (2-1) and Joel Payamps did the same.

Padres starter Michael King (2-1), who had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings, wound up allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings. He fanned 10.

Royals 4, White Sox 2 (Game 1)

Salvador Perez blasted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and five pitchers combined on a five-hitter as visiting Kansas City topped Chicago in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Apr 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (89) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Back in the lineup after sustaining hip and knee injuries Sunday, Perez connected against Chicago closer Michael Kopech (0-2). The Royals' Renfroe hit a solo homer against Dominic Leone in the ninth. Nick Anderson (1-1) was the winner, and James McArthur notched his fourth save.

White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon threw five innings of one-run ball in his major league debut. Paul DeJong homered, doubled and singled for Chicago.

White Sox 2, Royals 1 (Game 2)

Gavin Sheets homered as Chicago beat visiting Kansas City in the second game of a doubleheader, the White Sox's first win against the Royals this season in seven tries.

Erick Fedde (1-0) tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and Deivi Garcia handled two shutout innings for his first save of the season.

Kansas City's Michael Wacha (1-2) gave up two runs on four hits over six innings.

Braves 5, Astros 4 (10 innings)

Orlando Arcia drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the top of the 10th inning as the visiting Atlanta defeated Houston to sweep a three-game series.

Arcia, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, slapped the decisive single to left against Seth Martinez (1-1). Arcia was 5-for-8 with one homer and five RBIs in the series.

Mauricio Dubon and Yordan Alvarez homered for Houston. Astros starter J.P. France pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits.

Nationals 2, Dodgers 0

Jake Irvin went six scoreless innings and CJ Abrams hit a leadoff home run as Washington finished a long California trip in style with a victory over Los Angeles.

Irvin gave up four hits and one walk, striking out six. The Nationals went 5-4 on the trip, which also had stops in San Francisco and Oakland.

Dodgers right-hander Landon Knack went five strong innings in his major league debut, but the Los Angeles offense was held to five hits. Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-4, his 10th multi-hit game of the season.

Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3

Cody Bellinger homered to help Chicago beat Arizona in the rubber game of a three-game series in Phoenix.

Mike Tauchman and Michael Busch each had two hits and an RBI while Dansby Swanson had two hits and a run for the Cubs, who have won four of five.

Ketel Marte and Joc Pederson homered for the second straight game for the Diamondbacks, who had won three of four.

Athletics 6, Cardinals 3

Paul Blackburn remained unbeaten with a fourth straight effective start as Oakland salvaged one win in its three-game series against visiting St. Louis.

Esteury Ruiz smacked his second homer in three games and Tyler Nevin had three hits as the A's capped a 3-3 homestand with their third most runs this season.

Willson Contreras had two doubles and Ivan Herrera drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who completed a 3-3 trip.

Phillies 7, Rockies 6

Kyle Schwarber launched two home runs and Cristopher Sanchez struck out 10 in six strong innings, but Philadelphia had to survive a comeback bid by visiting Colorado.

The Phillies finished a three-game sweep as they won for the sixth time in their past eight games.

Ezequiel Tovar went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Rockies, who have lost five straight and seven of their past eight.

Angels 5, Rays 4

Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward hit RBI singles in the ninth inning, rallying Los Angeles past Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Amed Rosario's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth put the Rays up 4-3 before the Angels came back against Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.

Rosario, Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz each had two hits for Tampa Bay.

--Field Level Media

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