In truth, Friday night wasn't about Johnny Cueto at all. He was off his game, and the Red Sox pounded the ace for 13 hits and seven runs.
The story was Owens, who was simply marvelous, going a career-high eight innings while allowing four hits and one earned run.
Though the Red Sox obviously need to make upgrades to their pitching staff for next season, a rotation that includes lefties like Owens, who is ranked the organization's No. 5 prospect, and Eduardo Rodriguez could become pretty dangerous in time.
"He's going to be one of the good ones," said catcher Blake Swihart, a familiar batterymate for Owens over the years.