Owens stays scoreless for Sea Dogs

Henry Owens finally gave up a hit Wednesday. But he still hasn't allowed a run this season.

Boston's No. 2 prospect scattered six hits and fanned nine over 6 2/3 shutout innings as Double-A Portland defeated Trenton, 9-2.

Owens' scoreless streak appeared in jeopardy early as he allowed a leadoff single to Yankees' top prospect Gary Sanchez to start the second inning and Robert Refsnyder doubled with one out to put runners on second and third. The 20-year-old left-hander recovered to fan Zach Wilson and induce a ground ball off the bat of Yeral Sanchez.

The 6-foot-6 hurler exited with a runner on second and two outs in the seventh, giving way to Matty Ott, who fanned Sanchez to end the frame. Owens (2-0) threw 59 of his 83 pitches for strikes and faced five over the minimum for the Sea Dogs.

"(Owens) mixed his pitches really well, and his changeup was fantastic," Trenton manager Tony Franklin told The Trentonian. "The fastballs that he threw, we just didn't hit. We took a lot of them, but once we took them, we knew the fastball was coming. It's one of those that you know is coming, but it doesn't matter."

Owens' 2014 debut involved six no-hit innings in a rain-shortened season opener on April 3. Owens joined the Sea Dogs to end the 2013 season. In eight starts with the club, the California native eight runs -- six earned -- on 23 hits over 42 2/3 innings. Over that time Owens is 5-1 and has racked up 64 strikeouts for the club.

Offensively, Mookie Betts continued his strong start to the season, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a walk. Boston's No. 7 prospect is batting .458 through the season's first six games. Travis Shaw, Sean Coyle and Shannon Wilkerson drove in two runs apiece for Portland.

Ott allowed two runs on two hits in the eighth before giving way to Jose Valdez, who tossed a hitless ninth.

Sanchez was responsible for both Thunder runs, doubling home a pair in the eighth. He finished 2-for-4 and is batting .364 with 10 RBIs.

Bryan Mitchell (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits over four innings.