Henry

Owens

Through three starts at Double-A, the 21-year-old southpaw now sports a 2-0 record, 1.20 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 29/5 K/BB ratio in 15 innings. He isn’t expected to crack the Red Sox rotation until the 2015 season, but if he continues to dominate like this, he may push that timetable up considerably.

The start was arguably the best of the soon-to-be-21-year-old’s career, as he walked four and struck out 10 over six innings. The No. 36 overall pick in the 2011 draft, Owens registered a 4.87 ERA last season for Low-A Greenville, but also struck out 130 batters in 101 2/3 innings compared to 47 walks. Moved up to the Carolina League for his sophomore campaign, the left-hander still has bouts of inconsistency, but has definitely improved his prospect stock this season with a 2.93 ERA, 62 hits allowed and 107/47 K/BB in 92 innings.

Owens dominated at High-A Salem to the point where he had nothing left to prove. The rising prospect went 8-5 with a 2.92 ERA over 20 starts prior to his promotion. The No. 36 overall pick in the 2011 draft, Owens could make his major league debut late next season if everything goes well.

The 21-year-old left-hander completed two innings in the outing, allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out two and hitting a batter. Owens is widely regarded as Boston’s top pitching prospect headed into the upcoming season, though he has no chance of cracking the team’s Opening Day rotation. He’ll likely return to Double-A Portland to begin the season, where he posted a 1.78 ERA and 46-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30.1 innings last year. If all goes as planned, Owens could be ready for his first taste of the major leagues late in the summer.

He’s filling in for Eduardo Rodriguez (hamstring). Owens holds a 3.70 ERA with a strikeout per inning this season in the minors, but he’s continued to really struggle with his control both at Triple-A Pawtucket and in his three starts for the Red Sox. He’s not a recommended streaming option.

He’ll make a spot start Sunday against the Tigers in place of Eduardo Rodriguez (hamstring). Owens holds a 3.70 ERA with a strikeout per inning this season with Pawtucket, but his control remains poor.

Owens struck out six on the afternoon. He also walked five. The Tigers pounced on him for a pair of big innings, scoring five runs in the third and three in the fifth. Six of the eight runs on his line came courtesy of Justin Upton, who socked three-run home runs in each of those lopsided frames. Owens, 24, remains unseasoned at the major league level. Whether he makes another start for the Sox next time through the rotation remains to be seen. He was filling in for Eduardo Rodriguez on Sunday as Rodriguez works his way through a hamstring injury.

Owns was hammered for eight earned runs over five innings Sunday in a loss to the Tigers and now holds a 7.79 ERA in four appearances this season at the major league level. Chris Young was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding 25-man roster move.

Owens fell two outs short of a no-hitter, losing it on a single to right field by Syracuse first baseman Matt Skole. He finished with five strikeouts and three walks while throwing 63 of his 102 pitches for strikes. Owens didn’t have much luck in the majors earlier this year (5.11 ERA in three starts) but has fared much better at Pawtucket with five wins and a 3.24 ERA over 12 starts. He won’t be a serious candidate for the Red Sox’s starting rotation until he significantly lowers his walk rate (44 free passes in 66 2/3 innings this year).

He retired 19 of the first 20 batters he faced including 13 straight to begin the game. Charlotte second baseman Jake Peter ruined the left-hander’s no-hit bid with a two-out single in the eighth inning. When all was said and done, Owens allowed three runs, one hit and two walks while supplying four strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. It was Owens’ longest outing of the season. The 23-year-old made three starts in Boston earlier this season but was demoted after surrendering 13 free passes in only 12 1/3 innings.