BOSTON – Amid a chaotic Red Sox homestand that included a spate of injuries, sloppy defense and a tough late loss, Tanner Hawk not only pitched well but pitched well Wednesday night at Fenway Park. Order was restored. Maddux,” the Reds won 2-0 against Cleveland, and the game lasted just 1 hour and 49 minutes. It was the shortest nine-inning game since June 2, 2010, and a near-perfect game for Armando Galarraga's Detroit.
The term refers to a shutout achieved with fewer than 100 pitches, in honor of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.
Houk performed the honor with 94 pitches, 69 of which were strikes. This is the first shutout by a Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha in Anaheim on June 6, 2022. Maddux is the first Boston hurler to do so since Clay Buchholz on August 31, 2014.
The Red Sox (10-9) were 3-6 on the homestand heading into Thursday afternoon's final game.
Hawk had just three hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts.
After years of trying to fulfill his promise and define his role, Hawk has been both of those things so far this season.
Hawk started four games and had a 3-1 record with a 1.35 ERA.
Houk's most troublesome pitch, his slider, was trickier than usual in this game. The Guardians came up short with a lot of swings and misses.
On a night when the Hawks didn't need much run support, Pablo Reyes scored on a Ben Lively balk in the third inning, giving the Red Sox the lead. Connor Wong added insurance with a solo shot over the Green Monster in the fourth.
