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

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.