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Boston Red Sox: The night Alex Verdugo saved the 2021 season

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 07: Alex Verdugo #99 of the Boston Red Sox follows his ball as he his a home run in the sixth inning of Game Two of the doubleheader MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 07: Alex Verdugo #99 of the Boston Red Sox follows his ball as he his a home run in the sixth inning of Game Two of the doubleheader MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 7, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox Tanner Houck (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox strike zone: Tanner Houck should be in the lineup to stay

Besides the fifth inning meltdown by Nathan Eovaldi in the first game of the series, pitching really hasn’t been the problem for the Boston Red Sox against the potent Blue Jays offense.

After Nick Pivetta pitched his heart out in the first game, Tanner Houck took the mount in game 2 in a must-win situation, and he really came through.

Houck pitched just 3 2/3 innings, but they were strong innings in which he really shut down the Blue Jays offense and kept his team in the game early.  With how the Red Sox offense has been struggling to score runs and with how the team lost the first game, any onslaught of offense by the Jays would’ve further damaged this team.

So, let’s give props to the 25-year-old Houck as one the heros of the game 2 victory.

"“He was good.  He was really good.  That’s a tough lineup,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following the game.  “He’s special, man.  He seems like he’s under control, he doesn’t show emotion…he’s going to help us for the rest of the season.”"

That is music to the ears of every Red Sox fans across the nation.  With Chris Sale on a fast and strong trajectory to return very soon, Houck is really showing he can be another pitcher who can help reinforce the starting rotation.

With Martin Perez demoted to the bullpen and Garrett Richards another bad start from the same demotion, Tanner Houck should be in the lineup to stay the rest of the season, especially if he continues to show the type of control he showed on Sunday.

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