Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Henry Owens Flirts With 'No-No' In AAA Debut

(Louriann Mardo-Zayat)
With all the discussion lately about the need to add starting pitching to the Red Sox roster, a beacon of light shone up from the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations yesterday. Left-handed starter Henry Owens took a no-hitter into the sixth inning yesterday for AAA Pawtucket in a 5-0 win. The towering (6'6") Owens used his fastball (clocked as high as 94) and a devastating curveball (clocked as tantalizingly slow as 69) to baffle the Columbus Clipper line-up. He ended up giving up just two hits and striking out nine in 6 2/3 impressive frames. He's probably on an innings limit this year, so don't count on Owens being at Fenway in September. Said catcher—and fellow top Sox prospect—Blake Swihart: "He’s the same old Henry, going out there and competing. I’ve seen him at different levels and at different competitions. He’s the same guy every time he goes out." So, while things look pretty dim mound-wise right now, there is serious hope on the McCoy Stadium horizon.