•HIGHLIGHTS: Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon made his second rehab start of his current stint on the DL, working three scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed only three hits and struck out three while throwing 34 pitches (27 strikes). The veteran, who has been on the DL since June 16 with a lower-back strain, was efficiently pounding the strike zone yesterday and topped out at 91 mph on the radar gun. Colon will pitch again for Pawtucket on Friday in Syracuse and will increase his work load to four innings or 55 to 60 pitches. … Pawtucket’s Jeff Bailey smoked his 25th homer of the season with a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning. The shot hit the billboards beyond the walkway behind the left-field berm. The 25 homers are a career-high for Bailey. He hit 22 for the PawSox in 2006. “He’s done a phenomenal job,” said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson. “He’s a veteran hitter who is still getting better. He’s becoming a better hitter each year, and obviously, the results are showing this year. He’s done a good job.”

•KEY TO THE GAME: Charlotte scored a pair of runs off Pawtucket reliever Lincoln Holdzkom in the top of the fifth inning en route to victory. The right-hander suffered the loss; it drops his record to 5-5.

•THEY SAID IT: “He looked a little rusty last time out (in Scranton),” said Johnson of Colon. “He looked like a guy who hadn’t been on the mound. [Yesterday] was very impressive. He had some finish to his pitches. His command and rhythm were good. He felt great and had some serious movement.”

•NOTES: Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of Bronson Arroyo’s perfect game at McCoy. The former PawSox pitcher, and current Cincinnati Red, recorded only the fourth — and last — perfecto in International League history on Aug. 10, 2003, against the Buffalo Bisons. Ironically, Charlotte’s starting pitcher yesterday was Tomo Ohka, who also tossed a perfect game for the PawSox on June 1, 2000, at McCoy Stadium. . . . PawSox outfielder Chris Carter has been placed on the seven-day disabled list (retroactive to Aug. 8) with an oblique strain. Pawtucket activated first baseman/DH Sandy Madera from the DL.

•UP NEXT: The PawSox’ Michael Bowden (0-2, 4.15 ERA) will face Knights’ right-hander Jack Egbert (3-10, 4.89). The series finale against Charlotte will be at 12:05 at McCoy. Tomorrow the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees come to town and New York pitching prospect Phil Hughes will start.

jmcdonal@projo.com