His rehab (likely) ends after 15 2⁄3 innings, 5.74 ERA, 15 strikeouts and 6 hits. Next up: Fenway.
The Red Sox had a seventh straight game with ten hits and again hung ten on the board, but the farm had trouble grabbing any runs whatsoever, for a total of seven runs across three teams. This was with the help of a mostly quality starting pitching staff. Still wanna read? I would, because below details the rehab outing of a guy who, for better or worse, will be a rotation piece down the stretch. Let’s get into it.
Worcester: L, 3-4 (BOX SCORE)
Tanner Houck’s potential last rehab start also happened to be his best, but he still did not eclipse five innings. He only went 4 1⁄3 and just 47 of his 76 pitches landed for strikes, but6six of those strikes were strike threes on Red Wings (Nationals AAA) and just 2 of those 29 balls were ball fours, so that’s a positive. That Jovani Moran made it through a fifth inning partly unscathed, only to unravel to start the sixth, was a fitting conclusion to a Houck start in which he just didn’t go long enough. Disappointing, too, were the WooSox’s six through nine hitters, who went hitless, and negated any good that two Nick Sogard hits and a Blaze Jordan solo shot did for the team. By the time Blaze Jordan homered in the eighth, even though it made the game a one run game, the WooSox’s win percentage only doubled to…. a paltry 16 percent, and the game stayed in Rochester’s favor.
Back to Houck: I want it stated here that if the team tries to act like he is an acquisition in a couple week’s time to justify inaction at the trade deadline, I will have a fit.
Portland: L, 2-3 (BOX SCORE)
Another good performance by a starting pitcher, another one-run loss due to a lack of offensive firepower against Hartford (Rockies AA). Remember that terrified soldier meme I used the other day? It applies here, too. Lefty Dalton Rogers went six strong allowing two runs, and Jesse Wu-Yelland allowed a run in the two innings he pitched; each struck out three. That’d be great, but Mikey Romero can only carry the lineup so far, especially when even he gets only one of the team’s five hits, while they collectively walked only twice and committed two errors. Someone had to win this game, and it was the Yard Goats last night.
Greenville: L, 2-5 (BOX SCORE)
Shea Sprague’s line after five innings: three runs on five hits, three strikeouts and one walk. This might be the most start a pitcher can have. Yes, I left a word out of that sentence intentionally; while it wasn’t flashy, nor was the home run he gave up, it was serviceable enough for a win… if the Drive had scored more than two runs on six hits, and if five of those hits didn’t come from the bottom of the lineup. Outfielder Albert Feliz took a turn playing first, and twice had an RBI knock. But those were the only runs driven in for Salem on the night.
Salem: PPD, Make-Up Today
Have a happy Thursday!