PAWTUCKET -- Clay Buchholz and Fernando Cabrera looked like All-Stars Thursday night as they led Pawtucket to an important 4-3 victory over first-place Scranton/Wilkes Barre at McCoy Stadium.

That's fitting, since that's what Buchholz and Cabrera are: International League All-Stars.

The two were notified earlier in the day of their honor. Then they went out and celebrated in the best way possible. Buchholz picked up the victory and Cabrera the save as the PawSox moved within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Yankees.

"It's well deserved for both. To me, it was kind of a no-brainer with those two guys," said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson. "We're glad to see that they were recognized for their work."

Buchholz has had no problem getting recognition. He has had many wondering why he is not in the big leagues as he has been excellent all year. He was the top vote-getter in the league in the online voting by fans that makes up one-third the selection process.

"It's great. It's definitely an honor," Buchholz said of being selected.

The thing is, he will not be going to Portland, Ore., where the game that pits the International League against the Pacific Coast League will be played on July 15. He is scheduled to pitch for Pawtucket on July 12, the last game before the break.

"It's sort of bad I won't get to go out there and actually participate in the game," he said. "I wouldn't be able to pitch. It's the same as with (Charlie) Zink last year . . . I'll take a couple days off. I'll be in Providence and Pawtucket."

Even though he allowed as many runs as he has in any game all season Thursday night, Buchholz showed why he's an All-Star as he ran his record to 6-1. He allowed three runs in the fourth on three groundball singles and a fly ball to left that was lost in the lights by Paul McAnulty and went for a two-run double.

Before that, Buchholz retired the first 10 men he faced without a ball being hit out of the infield. He allowed only one fly ball out in seven innings. He threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 26 hitters he faced.

"Overall I was happy with the way I pitched," he said.

He showed the added maturity he has displayed all season when he did not get upset with the fly ball that fell and cost him two runs to get his earned run average over two for the first time since April. It now stand at 2.06.

"Those things happen," he said.

While Buchholz' situation has been closely followed, Cabrera has been more under the radar. The 27-year-old right-hander was signed as a free agent after spending most of last year with Baltimore. He was moved to the closer's role after Daniel Bard was promoted to Boston.

Cabrera has been perfect. The save Thursday night was his 17th in 17 opportunities. He leads the league in saves, has an ERA of 1.06 and has allowed only 20 hits in 36 innings.

"It feels good. It's good to be recognized for the season I've had so far," Cabrera said. "I hope I keep on doing what I'm doing."

Thursday night's save was a bit different because he walked two batters, including leadoff man Juan Miranda.

"The thing I like about him is that he never backs off. He challenges guys," Johnson said. "Rather than panicking because of the walk and just trying to get something over the plate, he kept throwing his fastball and hard slider, his best pitches."

"I'm that way. I trust my stuff," he said.

The All-Star game will be televised by ESPN2 and broadcast on the PawSox radio network beginning at 10:05 p.m. Eastern time.

pkenyon @projo.com