#MizzouMade RHP Tanner Houck Shines in MLB Debut
9/16/2020 9:08:00 AM | Baseball
Former Tigers ace picked up win, struck out seven over 5.0 shutout frames
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Former Mizzou Baseball RHP Tanner Houck earned his MLB debut Tuesday (Sept. 15) with the Boston Red Sox and received rave reviews following a dominant performance. The Collinsville, Illinois, native earned the win for Boston after posting 5.0 shutout frames with seven strikeouts. Houck limited the Miami Marlins offense to only two hits.
Tonight, RHP @houck_tanner lifelong dream becomes a reality ??
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) September 15, 2020
?? at Miami Marlins
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"Big game, big (first) impression. It was something we needed," Boston Red Sox manager Rob Roenicke said. "We needed to see a starter go like that and throw up all those zeroes. Pretty cool."
Houck's fantastic outing was the best for a Red Sox starter making his MLB debut since Eduardo Rodriguez tossed 7.2 shutout innings at Texas five years ago (May 28, 2015).
"Getting that win was truly amazing," Houck said. "The guys went out there and did what they had to do. Swinging the bat, they did absolutely everything they could, and then the bullpen coming in was amazing. But for me, getting to go out there, getting to warm up the first time, definitely had the heart pounding a little bit more than usual. It was a surreal moment."
Prior to his big league debut Tuesday evening, Houck received congratulations and words of encouragement from a slew of former Mizzou Baseball alums who also made the major leagues.
Before @houck_tanner takes the bump tonight for his MLB debut, some #MizzouMade alums have a special message for him?
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) September 15, 2020
??? M-I-Z!
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Only 1?? hour away from @houck_Tanner debut in the bigs
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) September 15, 2020
Still time for one last shoutout from our amazing #MizzouMade alums??
(via ?? @Max_Scherzer)
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