Red Sox Minor Lines 6/17: Tanner Houck vs. Max Scherzer

Good morning! The Red Sox captured a series victory in the PNW, their fourth straight, and now have the day off between an INTERESTING showdown in the bay. It may even be, say, more interesting than Worcester facing a future Hall of Famer on the mound while offering up a rehab appearance of their own…. Tanner Houck! It, uh, did not go well. Let’s get into it!

Worcester: L, 1-14 (BOX SCORE)

This game had a few notable rehab appearances: Abreu playing right field instead of DH’ing, Tanner Houck throwing an opener, allowing a run, and…. oh yeah, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer on the mound for the Bisons (Jays AAA). The WooSox were absolutely lost at the plate, striking out eight times and managing just one hit in Scherzer’s 4 ²⁄₃ innings. Later in the game, Blaze Jordan got the team on the board with a deep shot to right center to make it an 11-1 game, and the Bisons poured it on even thicker after that. And I know it’s not fair to assume that Tanner Houck at least matches up against a rehabbing Scherzer, but I’m not exactly tickled pink that it took him 32 pitches, just 18 of which were strikes, to leave the first inning against Triple-A hitters.

Portland: L, 3-6 (BOX SCORE)

Hayden Mullins had the stuff, striking out seven, but simply lacked the longevity, and the home run he gave up in the fourth proved to be fatal in his decision. Chris Troye and Gabe Jackson didn’t help much, each allowing multiple runs, making it impossible for this often-floundering offense to bounce back, though Abhram Liendo did get a late two-run shot to make this a save situation for the RubberDucks (Guardians AA.) Also, James Tibbs with a hit! The Sea Dogs are now 4-12 in the month of June.

Greenville: L, 1-6 (BOX SCORE)

Joe Holobetz took his second decision loss of the year despite going six innings and striking out eight because – stop me if you’ve heard this before – the offense couldn’t get it going. Nazzan Zanetello had an RBI for a second straight night, but it was the only run driven in against Greensboro (Pirates High-A). Plus, Jovani Moran rehab appearance!

Salem, Game 1: W, 7-2(BOX SCORE)

Catcher Andrew Mussett had himself a day in game one, as he often does, driving in two on three hits. Salem had the bases juiced on no outs and made of the most it against the Nationals. Luis Cohen was able to go the vast majority of this game, stringing together an 83-pitch appearance that may have been much shorter had the offense not exploded, but one that saw just two runs allowed.

Salem, Game 2: W, 1-0 (BOX SCORE)

Starlyn Nunez captured two hits and an RBI behind a six-strikeout Shea Sprague appearance that may not have gone super long, at just 63 pitches, but kept the Nationals at bay. Salem needed just four hits in game two to sweep the double-header, though they did benefit from three Fredericksburg errors. Nunez’s RBI came in the nick of time, the sixth and final offensive frame, and Joey Gartrell and Nathanael Cruz split the top of the seventh.

Have a happy Thursday!