Major League Baseball

Red Sox promote LHP Owens to start vs Yankees in MLB debut

Published Aug. 4, 2015 5:49 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) The Boston Red Sox have promoted lefty Henry Owens from the minors and are starting him at Yankee Stadium in his major league debut.

The last-place Red Sox selected Owens' contract to have him pitch Tuesday night against AL East-leading New York. Boston had optioned right-hander Ryan Cook to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday.

The 23-year-old Owens was 3-8 with a 3.16 ERA in 21 starts at Pawtucket. He led all qualifying Triple-A pitchers by holding opponents to a .193 batting average.

Boston plans to start rookie pitchers in all three games at New York - Owens, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez. It would mark the first time since 1945 that the Red Sox started rookie pitchers every time in a series of at least three games against the Yankees, the team said in citing research by the Elias Sports Bureau.