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Boston's Houck hit on face by liner off bat of Yankees' Higashioka

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON - Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck left Friday's matchup with the Yankees after being struck on the face with a line drive.

With Boston leading 10-1 in the fifth inning, New York's Kyle Higashioka led off and fell behind 1-2 in the count, before lining Houck's 92 mph sinker straight up the middle and hitting Houck. 

Houck immediately went to the ground and stayed down for a few minutes while he was attended to by athletic trainers. The right side of his face was bleeding, but he was able to get to his feet and walk off the field on his own power. 

Tanner Houck red sox line drive
Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox exits the game after being hit in the face with a line drive during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 16, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The team announced his injury as a facial contusion. 

Houck covered his cheek with a towel and raised his left fist to the crowd as he walked down the steps into the dugout. Houck was replaced by Joe Jacques. 

Houck allowed one run and four hits, with two strikeouts and a walk.

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