By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – The 3,128 souls that passed through the McCoy Stadium turnstiles Monday were treated to a preview of coming attractions.
Two of the more heralded pitching prospects in the Red Sox’ farm system starred in Pawtucket’s 2-0 blanking of Lehigh Valley, Michael Bowden starting things off with 5 1/3 scoreless innings while Daniel Bard slammed the door en route to his third save.
“I think Dan and I both hope so,” responded Bowden when asked if this future combination will someday play out at Fenway Park. “That’s what it seems like.”
The 22-year-old Bowden easily delivered his best outing of the young season. Making his third start, the right-hander pitched into the sixth inning after working 4 2/3 and four frames, respectively, in his first two turns.
Throwing a season-high 92 pitches, Bowden struck out seven and issued just one walk in picking up his first win in a PawSox uniform.
Asked if he felt weird about racking up his first Triple-A win after registering a victory with the Red Sox last August, Bowden responded, “Someone told me that was my first (Class AAA) win and I was like ‘Oh, cool.’ ”
Bowden has now allowed just one run on 10 hits in 14 innings this season. He lowered his ERA from an already microscopic 1.04 to 0.64.
“It’s the second straight year I’ve needed three starts to get through five innings. I was throwing the ball well, getting ahead of guys,” Bowden said. “I went out knowing I had a few more pitches to work with, so I went out with the mentality to throw a lot of strikes and see where it takes me.”
“He was excited because he got past that unchartered territory of getting into the sixth,” PawSox manager Ron Johnson said.  
Bard, 23, has dominated the International League from Day 1 and stayed true to form on Monday. He sandwiched two strikeouts around a walk to Lehigh Valley’s Jeremy Slayden, who connecting for a solo home run off Bard Saturday.
“He’s done a nice job of commanding the zone. If he misses he gets right back in,” Johnson said. “There’s some room for error when you throw that hard.”
Bowden retired eight of the first nine IronPigs, striking out the side in the third. He encountered a bit of a rough patch in the fourth, when Lehigh Valley loaded the bases with one down. Bowden wiggled out of the jam by getting the next two batters to ground out.
Bowden flashed his athletic side in the sixth when he hustled off the mound on a foul popup near the Lehigh Valley dugout. The right-hander dashed off the hill and was able to get a glove before the ball squirted out. Obviously disappointed that his sprint went for not, Bowden regrouped to fan Jason Donald for what turned out to be his final batter on the afternoon.
“Our fielding coordinator (Rob Leary) is here and he ripped me a little but,” Bowden said with a smile. “I thought I had my chance at a web gem, but I overran it and actually made it look worse.”
The Red Sox tinkered with Bowden’s delivery during spring training, choosing to focus on him driving the ball with more traction.
“I was so compact last year, which is what they originally wanted. Now I’m getting a little more momentum and leg kick,” explained Bowden. “I actually feel more powerful.”  
Fernando Cabrera served as the bridge between Bowden and Bard, tossing 2 2/3 innings. Pawtucket, which picked up its fourth shutout of the young campaign, got a two-run home run from Paul McAnulty to account for its only runs.
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The news that Rocco Baldelli left Monday’s game with a balky hamstring quickly filtered down to McCoy. The first clue that something was potentially in the works was when Jeff Bailey was pulled in the top of the eighth and hitting coach Russ Morman stood in Johnson’s third-base coaching box in the home half.
Word should officially come down today that Baldelli is heading to the disabled list with Bailey taking his place. Bailey was dressed by the time the PawSox were through and was seen receiving congratulatory handshakes from several teammates.
Bailey, tied for second in the I.L. with four home runs, was in the running for the final roster spot in Boston, stating his candidacy with a .356 average. The spot eventually went to Chris Carter.
Though Bailey, now in his sixth season with the PawSox, is glad to be heading back to the majors, he wishes he was doing so under better circumstances.
“I don’t like to hear that,” said Bailey about Baldelli’s apparent injury. “You still have to try and get better, no matter where you’re at. You go and play. I’ll probably be back (in Pawtucket) more than one time, I imagine.”
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EXTRA BASES: Johnson should receive reinforcements today in Jonathan Van Every and Julio Lugo, who was greenlighted to begin a rehab assignment. Van Every had been sidelined since mid-March with an ankle injury. … Rochester comes to town for a brief two-set with Kris Johnson getting the pitching nod for Pawtucket. Johnson is yet to surrender a run in two starts, spanning 10 innings. … Zach Daegas (ankle) took Bailey’s place in left field. He had sat out the previous two games and is scheduled to see a doctor today.