MIAMI — Tanner Houck gave up just two singles over five innings to win his major league debut, pitching the Boston Red Sox past the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Tuesday.
Houck, the first-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2017, struck out seven and walked three on 86 pitches. The 24-year-old righty became Boston’s 15th starting pitcher this season.
Jackie Bradley Jr. broke up a scoreless game with an opposite-field double off Miami starter Sandy Alcantara in the sixth. Alcantara (2-2) allowed a leadoff single to Xander Bogaerts and walked Christian Vazquez before Bradley delivered against the playoff-contending Marlins.
The Red Sox increased their lead on Vazquez’s run-scoring single in the eighth. Rafael Devers hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on reliever James Hoyt‘s errant pickoff throw and scored on the hit by Vazquez.
Dylan Covey pitched two perfect innings in relief of Houck. Ryan Brasier followed with a scoreless eighth.
Matt Barnes allowed Brian Anderson‘s two-out double before striking out Garrett Cooper for his seventh save.
Alcantara scattered five hits, walked two and struck out five in six innings.