•THE HIGHLIGHTS: Scott Lewis (2-2) shut down Pawtucket’s high-powered offense, striking out six and walking none while limiting the PawSox to just two hits through six innings to help Buffalo beat Pawtucket last night at McCoy Stadium.

Todd Linden blasted a solo home run over the fence in center field in the top of the sixth inning to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead, and Chris Gimenez scored from third base with two outs on an error by Pawtucket second baseman Josh Wilson, who dropped a routine fly ball hit by Andy Cannizaro in the top of the seventh. The PawSox managed only three hits off of four Buffalo pitchers.

•PROSPECT WATCH: Pawtucket knuckleballer Charlie Zink, the International League pitcher of the year, who is tied with three other pitchers for the most wins in the league (14), had another strong outing. He scattered seven hits and struck out three in eight innings. He gave up only one earned run. … Chris Carter had one of the three PawSox hits. He is 8-for-13 since returning to the PawSox lineup Tuesday after missing 18 games with a strained oblique. He entered last night’s action 10th in the I.L. with a .302 batting average. ... George Kottaras and Gil Velazquez had Pawtucket’s other hits. Kottaras has 11 hits in his last 27 at-bats and Velazquez has a five-game hitting streak.

•FAMILIAR SIGHTING: Joe Thurston was back in the PawSox clubhouse last night. His contract had been purchased by Boston on Tuesday and he was in uniform at Yankee Stadium this week. But when Boston acquired Mark Kotsay, the Red Sox designated Thurston for assignment. Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said Thurston would be activated by the PawSox today. Thurston is the International League’s third-leading hitter with a .316 batting average.

•UP NEXT: The PawSox will play the final game of their two-game series against Buffalo tonight (6:05), with Eric Hull (3-2, 4.12 ERA) battling Buffalo lefty Aaron Laffey (6-2, 3.65 ERA).

roblee@projo.com