•THE HIGHLIGHTS: This one resembled a men’s softball game for quite some time and took a laborious 3:48 to conclude. The teams combined for 21 runs and 36 hits. The PawSox jumped out to a 5-2 lead after two innings but the relief corps couldn’t keep the Bisons in check. A four-run sixth inning gave Buffalo a 9-6 lead but Keith Ginter drove in two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 9-9.

Andy Cannizaro hit a solo homer to give the Bisons the lead in the seventh but Gil Velazquez doubled in Dusty Brown to tie the game at 10-10 in the eighth. The Bisons went ahead in the 10th off Chris Smith (1-5) when Jordan Brown doubled and Michael Aubrey laced a hard single to right-center. Brown made a nice slide to get under Dusty Brown’s tag at the plate. Bubbie Buzachero picked up his 10th save.

•KEYS TO THE GAME: Plenty of hitting was trumped by some shoddy Pawtucket relief pitching. Jose Vaquedano gave up two runs in his one inning but the biggest slip of the night came under Lincoln Holdzkom. He inherited a 7-5 lead but surrendered four runs in a sloppy sixth inning. The Sox rallied and tied the game in the eighth but Smith gave up the winning run in the 10th on two hard-hit balls.

The PawSox clinched the wild-card spot in the upcoming I.L. playoffs with the loss. They’ll open a best-of-five series against Scranton on Wednesday at McCoy.

•PROSPECT WATCH: Devern Hansack made his 25th start of the season but lasted just two innings and 37 pitches. Hansack was activated from the disabled list Friday after being hit by a line drive on his right (pitching) arm on Aug. 17. Hansack was on a 40-pitch count and manager Ron Johnson reported that he felt fine afterward.

•THEY SAID IT: “I told our guys to make sure they take a look at these kids out there. They’re so happy to see you and they’re just loving life. It certainly makes you appreciate what you have.” Ron Johnson on a pre-game clinic the team conducted for a group of Challenger baseball players who are fighting physical and developmental disabilities.

•UP NEXT: Edgar Martinez will start tonight against Lehigh Valley in the first of a two-game series that will wind up the regular season. Bartolo Colon will pitch the regular season finale Monday (1 p.m.). The PawSox will treat fans at tonight’s game to their final post-game fireworks show of the season.