PawSox Beat Buffalo on Opening Night at McCoy

PawSox news release…

(Pawtucket, RI) – Pawtucket starter Henry Owens tossed six scoreless, one-hit innings to combine with relievers Anthony Varvaro and Heath Hembree on a three-hit shutout of the Buffalo Bisons (0-1) to lead the Pawtucket Red Sox (1-0) to a season-opening 2-0 victory in front of 3,052 on a cold, windy night at McCoy Stadium.

Owens (1-0) struck out eight and walked three in his 92-pitch outing. Varvaro struck out four of the seven batters he faced in 2.0 innings of relief. Heath Hembree struck out two in the ninth inning to pick up his first save of 2016. Overall, Pawtucket pitching allowed only six baserunners-three singles and three walks.

Allen Craig doubled home Justin Maxwell for the first run of the Red Sox season in the second inning. Sean Coyle drilled Pawtucket’s first home run of 2016 with two outs in the seventh inning. The opposite field blast provided the PawSox all the insurance they would need.

Buffalo starter Drew Hutchison (0-1) matched his PawSox counterpart, allowing only one hit. Hutchison impressed with 5.0 innings of work, allowing one run, earned, while striking out nine and walking two.

The Bisons bullpen also pitched well, escaping two bases loaded jams. A single and two walks loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning for Pawtucket but reliever Ben Rowen struck out the side (Sam Travis, Maxwell and Craig) to escape the inning unscathed.

Dustin Antolin loaded the bases with two walks and a double in the eighth inning but held the PawSox off the board after two strikeouts and a flyout.

The Red Sox won its 11th Opening Night contest in the last 12 years. Pawtucket recorded a shutout in its season opener for the second straight season. The PawSox won 4-0 at Lehigh Valley on April 9 of last season.

Following last night’s rainout, the PawSox and Bisons are scheduled to play a single-admission doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12:05 pm. In Game one, Pawtucket righthander Sean O’Sullivan is scheduled to make his PawSox debut against Bisons lefthander Scott Diamond. Game two of the twinbill will pit Pawtucket lefthander Edwin Escobar against Buffalo righthander Chad Jenkins.