BOSTON — Tanner Houck dominated through the beginning of the season, stepped up as the anchor of the Red Sox staff and made a real case to start the All-Star Game.
Houck did earn a spot on that roster and pitched in the game, which marked a quick sample of recent struggles when he allowed a three-run home run to Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
That’s just part of a rather uncommon month for Houck as of late. He’s given up at least three runs in seven of his last eight starts. He took the loss for the Red Sox on Sunday night against the New York Yankees after allowing a three-spot in the opening frame.
Houck did grind through six innings as he has throughout the year. That ultimately stood out to his Red Sox manager.
“He was off, but he gave us enough,” Alex Cora told reporters. “We needed him to go six. Obviously, the line isn’t a good one.”
“Just timing issues and (my) delivery just feels a little out of whack as of late,” Houck told reporters. “… Ultimately, that’s the way a full 162 games is going to play out. You’re not always going to feel your best. You’re not always going to have everything clicking. It’s about getting back to those days where you feel that. Keep showing up.”
Houck generated only six swings-and-misses against the Yankees and threw just 51 of his 97 pitches for strikes with four walks. For a starter who lived on attacking the strike zone throughout the season, Houck just seems to be in the ups and downs of a big-league season with the Red Sox.
“I would say my stuff lately isn’t up to par as I’d like it to be,” Houck said. “When that happens, execution is really what matters. Didn’t execute as well but battled.”
Houck maintained his self-confidence to find his form again, even if the process wasn’t the smoothest one for the Red Sox.
“It’s not always pretty,” Houck said. “You’re going to be frustrated more days than you’re probably going to feel like it’s easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it.”
The Red Sox need Houck to find that original groove of the season if they hope to break this second-half skid and maintain ground in the playoff hunt.
