Tanner Houck on diving head first to record an out on Saturday: ‘It’s definitely a play that I probably won’t do again in spring training’
After last Monday's rain-related cancellation of his first start against the Yankees, Red Sox starter Tanner Houck made his spring debut on Saturday afternoon.
Houck tossed three innings, giving up two runs off three hits with no walks or strikeouts. He did, however, make an impressive but yet boneheaded play, diving into first base to retire Twins’ Harrison Bader to end the third inning.
The Red Sox All-Star decided to dive headfirst with his glove to retire Bader because Triston Casas wasn’t at first base.
“Before I went out there, AC (manager Alex Cora) told me I had 10 pitches left and said, ‘Get through the third with 10 pitches,’” Houck said. “I said, ‘OK.’ And I knew I was getting close, and so I made the play.”
Houck diving headfirst to record an out at first base shows off his competitiveness on the mound but risks potential injury in a meaningless spring training game.
“It’s definitely a play that I probably won’t do again in spring training. During the season, maybe do that again,” Houck said. “But reactions just kind of took over, pumped up for the first game, being back out there.”
Overall, Houck was efficient against the Twins, retiring the final seven batters he faced after giving up two runs in the first inning. Houck threw 25 of his 40 pitches for strikes.
Houck said to reporters he feels like he executed well in the outing.
“First true outing of the year,” he said. “Just go out there and kind of check some boxes, make sure you’re leaving the field (feeling) good. Show up the next day and stick to the routine.”
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