IL1 Pawtucket Red Sox

Owens' One-Hit Shutout Leads PawSox to Doubleheader Split with Chiefs

Published on June 21, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Henry Owens
Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Henry Owens
(Pawtucket Red Sox)

(Pawtucket, RI) - Henry Owens tossed a one-hit, seven-inning shutout, leading the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 2-0 victory for their fifth straight win in game one of Tuesday evening's doubleheader at McCoy Stadium, while the Syracuse Chiefs held on for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

Owens (5-3) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Matt Skole's line-drive single into right field broke up the bid with one out in the final frame of game one.

He struck out five and walked three in the first complete-game shutout for a Pawtucket pitcher since Steven Wright's nine-inning shutout on July 28, 2013.

"It felt really good and it's definitely getting better every start," said Owens. "The game plan was just to attack the zone from the first pitch to the last and I think [catcher Ali] Solis did a great job of putting down some good pitches and we just kind of rolled with it from the first inning on."

This was the first time Solis had ever caught Owens.

Owens, who added he felt better on the mound in this appearance than at any other point this season, recorded his third scoreless outing of the season, but his first since May 10.

"He had better command of the zone and I thought his overall mix was better," said manager Kevin Boles. "He established the fastball, threw it for more strikes and he did a terrific job."

Owens retired the first 11 batters he faced, pitched around two walks in the fourth and put together a 1-2-3 fifth inning. After a one-out walk in the sixth, Steve Lombardozzi popped a ball into shallow center field. Jose Vinicio made a sensational over-the-shoulder, running catch to rob Lombardozzi and keep the no-hitter in tact.

After Syracuse's lone hit in the seventh, Owens induced a pop out from Pedro Severino and struck out Matt den Dekker to end the game.

A.J. Cole (5-4) dealt a six-inning complete game for the Chiefs (32-38), allowing two runs on seven hits.

The PawSox (38-34) offense did its initial damage in the fourth inning, using a walk and four consecutive one-out singles by Henry Ramos, Ryan Court and Jantzen Witte, who earned the RBI.

Justin Maxwell delivered an RBI double to score Chris Marrero in the sixth inning with Pawtucket's second run.

Robby Scott (3-1) made his third spot start of the season for the PawSox in the nightcap. The lefthander entered the game having allowed no runs and only two hits in 9.2 innings pitched in June.

After Scott retired the first five Syracuse batters of the game, he grazed den Dekker with a pitch. Donovan Solano followed by lining a ball into the right center field gap for an RBI single that put the Chiefs ahead, 1-0.

Scott tossed a 1-2-3 third inning and surrendered a Skole single and a Jason Martinson double sandwiched in between two strikeouts in the fourth.

Scott was relieved by Chandler Shepherd, who came on to make his Triple-A Debut with two on and two out. He walked Donovan Solano before the next batter, Tony Campana, snuck a groundball, two-run single into right field that upped Syracuse's lead to 3-0.

Shepherd fanned the next batter and did not allow a run in 1.1 innings of work.

Noe Ramirez delivered two scoreless innings to extend his scoreless streak to 12.1 innings.

Pawtucket scored both of its runs in the fourth inning.

After allowing a walk and a double to Bryce Brentz ,Chiefs starter Aaron Laffey struck out the final batter he faced, Henry Ramos.

Reliever Erik Davis (6-2) walked the first batter he faced and after a strikeout, Dan Butler stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. Butler grounded a single into left field that cut Syracuse's lead to 3-2.

The PawSox threatened in the seventh and final frame against Rafael Martin.

Dan Butler singled with one out and Jose Vinicio doubled into the right field corner to put two in scoring position with one out. After Martin intentionally walked Brock Holt, he earned his 13th save by getting Miller to ground into a game-ending, 6-6-3 double play.

After taking off game one, Brock Holt played all seven innings of game two in left field. He went 1-for-3 with the intentional walk and a single in his first at-bat in the second game of his rehabilitation assignment.

"I feel good," said Holt. "Not as good as I would like but definitely progressing and it just feels good to be out there again playing."

Holt is scheduled to get a day off tomorrow before resuming his rehab assignment at McCoy on Thursday.

Pawtucket has won 14 of its last 21 games dating to May 31 and the club has split all four of its doubleheaders this season.

The PawSox continue their five-game series against the Chiefs tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket righthander Aaron Wilkerson (3-1, 2.03) is scheduled to face off with Syracuse righty Taylor Hill (3-6, 4.98). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the Pawtucket Red Sox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.

Good seats for each of the remaining games on the homestand against the Chiefs and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.

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Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Henry Owens
Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Henry Owens
   



International League Stories from June 21, 2016


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