Boesch, Vazquez Homer To Power PawSox Past Bulls

Pawtucket Red Sox Press Release

(Pawtucket, RI) – Behind six shutout innings from starter Henry Owens and a pair of dingers, the Pawtucket Red Sox defeated the Durham Bulls, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium.

Owens (7-6) allowed three hits and four walks, while fanning seven. The Bulls (53-64) stranded eight baserunners over his six innings of work.

“I’ve just been trying to be consistent and hone a delivery that I can repeat over and over again,” said Owens. “Since the second half, I’ve felt pretty comfortable, more consistent and more under control.”

Owens has struck out 23 batters over his last three starts. The lefthander dealt his fourth scoreless outing of the season and the first since his seven-inning one-hitter on June 21.

“I thought he was around the plate more with his fastball tonight which is encouraging,” said manager Kevin Boles. “Overall, he had better command of the strike zone and he looked like he had better pace and rhythm to his delivery.”

The PawSox (61-55) scored their three runs on two home runs off Durham starter Austin Pruitt (8-8).

Brennan Boesch smashed a two-run blast in the second inning off the pitch speed sign over the bullpen in right field, his fourth home run of the season.

Christian Vazquez led off the fourth inning with a line drive over the right field fence for his second Triple-A home run of the season.

“He’s quieted things down with his lower half and he’s shown better management of the strike zone,” said Boles of his catcher. “When he’s right, he’s looking to right center and I think he’s done a real nice job.”

Vazquez is 6-for-9 with five RBI in three games on the current homestand.

Rusney Castillo earned the eighth multi-hit performance in his last 12 games. He is hitting .412 (21-for-51) over that span.

Chandler Shepherd pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Roman Mendez allowed a run in the eighth inning, snapping his scoreless streak at 19.2 innings.

The run came on Hank Conger’s home run (3) to right field.

Heath Hembree struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his sixth save. Hembree has retired 26 of the last 27 Triple-A batters he has faced, while striking out 16 of those 27 hitters.

Pawtucket has won 12 of its last 14 home games.

The PawSox continue their three-game series with the Bulls tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Brian Johnson (4-4, 4.13) is scheduled to make the start against Durham’s rehabbing righthander Alex Cobb. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.

Good seats for each of the two remaining games on the homestand are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.