In 1986, he was named team captain of the Mariners. On August 19, Owen and center fielder Dave Henderson were traded to the Boston Red Sox for Rey Quiñones, Mike Trujillo, Mike Brown and a player to be named later. In his third game with the Red Sox, he tied a major league record with six runs scored in a game. In the 1986 American League Championship Series, he hit .429 as the Red Sox, upended the California Angels 4 games to 3. In the 1986 World Series, he hit .300 as Boston lost to the New York Mets 4 games to 3.