BOSTON - The learning curve for a rookie pitcher can be unpredictable and steep at times. Case in point: Henry Owens.
For four innings Tuesday night, Owens looked untouchable, retiring the first 12 hitters he faced, all with remarkable efficiency, needing just 38 pitches in the first four frames.
"Efficiency was definitely there early,'' said Owens. "We came out to a two-run lead early and I was trying to keep the momentum on our side and get (his teammates) back in the dugout.''
Owens was successful in keeping Tampa Bay hitters off balance, mixing his fastball, changeup and curve with effectiveness.
The next four innings, however, found very different results. The Rays managed five runs in 3 1/3 innings after being blanked in the first four, leading to a 5-2 victory for the visitors.
"I think they put together some better at-bats,'' said Owens of what took place after the fourth. "I feel like we still had them off-balance in a couple of innings, made some pitches to get out of some situations. I think with two strikes, I was a little over-zealous at times and left a couple of pitches up in the zone.''
In the sixth, a combination of some wildness (walk, hit batsman) and a sloppy, air-mailed throw from Mookie Betts in right led to two runs, one of them unearned.
Boston Red Sox
In the eighth, Owens (3-3) yielded a two-run homer to Mikie Mahtook which effectively put the game away.
But on the positive side, Owens pitched well enough to get into the eighth inning for the second straight start and third time in the last six outings.
"It's reassuring to get deep into the ballgames the last two times out,'' he said, "but again, I would like to execute better with two strikes in certain situations.''
From the dugout, interim manager Torey Lovullo sent Owens back out for the eighth inning. His rationale was two-fold: he wanted the rookie to get a chance at a win with all the late-inning comebacks the Sox have been having; and, having him pitch deeper represents good experience.
"I think there's some value to that,'' Lovullo said. "I think when a young pitcher understands how to touch late innings that he's going to grow up a little quicker. He's pitched deep into games and I think overall, he's going to be in a good situation.''
Still, the stuff remains impressive. Owens garnered more than 20 swings-and-misses in his start Tuesday, which is particularly unusual for a pitcher whose fastball seldom registers more than 90 mph.
"I think there's a little bit of deception (to his delivery),'' said Lovullo, "whether it's (because) he hides the ball or throws across his body. But he's got a swing-and-miss changeup and he can locate and elevate his fastball. There's a lot of good things Henry can do. When it's rolling and clicking pretty good, you can see that he has good, easy innings.
"He hasn't done what he's done because he's lucky. He's making pitches. He's doing a great job of changing location, changing speeds, working his fastball to both sides of the plate and he's finding a way to get himself out of trouble. That's something you don't see very much from a young pitcher.''