Tanner Houck leaves Red Sox game under his own power after taking line drive to the face

Tanner Houck was cruising through four innings before his outing ended suddenly in the top of the fifth.Brian Fluharty/Getty

Red Sox starter Tanner Houck left Friday’s game after getting hit on the face by a line drive in the fifth inning against the Yankees.

The Sox were leading, 13-1, when Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka lined a sinker back up the middle while leading off the fifth. The liner — which had an exit velocity of 90 miles per hour — struck Houck in the face before he could lift his glove and caromed to third base. Houck sank to his knees on the mound as Higashioka reached first on a single.

Scary situation in Boston as Tanner Houck gets hit in the face.

Prayers for him and hoping everything is alright. pic.twitter.com/nva2QBwLgk

— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) June 17, 2023

A NESN replay appeared to show Houck bleeding from his upper right cheek before he covered his face with a towel brought to him by a Red Sox trainer. Though he walked off the field unassisted, Houck immediately headed into the clubhouse.

The Red Sox announced that his removal was due to a facial contusion.

Joe Jacques was brought in to relieve Houck, who allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two in four innings.

More updates will be provided when available.