Jeff Bailey has been a hit in the leadoff spot.

Pawtucket Red Sox

PAWTUCKET — Leadoff hitters generally only lead off an inning once, maybe twice a game.

But last night, PawSox first baseman Jeff Bailey led off a frame for Pawtucket three times, and the third time was the charm as the 29-year-old broke up a perfect game for the Durham Bulls’ pitching staff in the top of the sixth.

Though he’s not the classic top-of-the-order player, Bailey has taken to the role since being inserted there this season. In 12 games as leadoff hitter, Bailey is 21-for-50, a sizzling .420 average.

He wound up last night 1-for-4 as Pawtucket suffered its second straight shutout at the hands of the Bulls. It was the first time in nearly two years that the PawSox were held scoreless in back-to-back games.

“We didn’t have him identified as a leadoff guy — [second baseman Joe] Thurston would be the closest we have, and even he’s better suited to the number-two spot,” PawSox manager Ron Johnson said before last night’s game. “But when [Jed] Lowrie and [Brandon] Moss left [both were called up to Boston], we were looking for two things: Number one, a guy who could be selective, or number two, a guy that gave us the ability to be ahead after the first at-bat.”

While Bailey hasn’t drawn a high number of walks, with just two since April 28 when he took over the leadoff spot, he has provided some power. He homered Sunday to start the game in Syracuse, and started a four-run seventh with an RBI single.

In those nine games, Bailey has gone hitless only once, last Friday in Syracuse, when he was 0-for-5.

Bailey’s hot streak has raised his season average to .323, which places him in the top 10 in the International League.

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Bailey isn’t a burner, which is part of the reason why he plays first base. But Johnson said he’s fast enough. After his single last night, he got into scoring position with his third stolen base of the year.

“With Jeff, I think it was more just looking at the guys we have,” Johnson said. “He’s not afraid to take a pitch. When you look at his numbers, he draws walks but he can also generate some power.”

A familiar face in Pawtucket, this is the fifth season Bailey has spent time with the Boston organization. The Washington native first entered the Boston system in 2004 after being signed as a minor-league free agent. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997 out of Kelso (Wash.) High and has also spent time in the Montreal Expos’ farm system.

Though he struggled at the plate last year, hitting .245 in 115 games with the PawSox, he played in his first major-league game. Bailey was called up to Boston on July 6 and appeared in three games; his only hit in nine at-bats was a solo home run in Detroit. The last Boston player to count a homer as his first big-league at-bat is another standout first baseman: Kevin Youkilis.

That short stint was enough to earn Bailey a World Series ring.

On the first day of this season with Pawtucket, Bailey was eighth in the lineup. Things change in the minor leagues, however, and Johnson isn’t saying that Bailey will be at the top of the lineup for the rest of the year.

For now, though, it’s working for all parties.

“We threw him in there one day, and he liked it,” Johnson said. “He’s been on fire.”

smanza@projo.com