Watch: Red Sox's Tanner Houck has career-worst start vs. Rays

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (89) leaves the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Watch: Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck has career-worst start vs. Rays

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 9:11 PM ET

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck had an outing to forget on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. If only it weren't so historic.

The 2024 All-Star continued his shaky beginning to the 2025 campaign with a career-worst start, allowing 11 earned runs in 2.1 innings.

According to Stathead research, it was just the 10th time in MLB history a starting pitcher has allowed at least 11 earned runs in 2.1 innings or fewer. Houck is the first pitcher since former Royals starter Edinson Volquez (2016) to achieve the infamous stat line.

Houck faced 20 batters, and 12 reached base via either a hit or a walk. He allowed two home runs, including a lead-off bomb to Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz, who hit a 93 mph sinker 415 feet to center on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Yandy Díaz destroys the first pitch he sees pic.twitter.com/CugbbU9Lxz
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2025

Centerfielder Kameron Misner launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the second, blasting Houck's 84 mph sweeper 431 feet.

Kameron Misner continues to torch baseballs

This 431-foot shot comes off of his former college teammate! pic.twitter.com/E4UtMJzYXs
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2025

Following his nightmare outing, Houck's earned run average (ERA) ballooned to 9.16 through four starts. He's off to a much different start this year than his breakthrough 2024 season.

Last year, Houck posted a 1.35 ERA with four earned runs and one home run allowed in 26.2 innings through his first four starts, including a complete-game shutout in start No. 4. He posted a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 13 starts and ended the year with a 3.12 ERA in a career-high 178.2 innings.

Houck has his work cut out to produce those numbers this season. Based on the historic nature of his Monday start, things can likely only go up from here.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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