• HIGHLIGHTS: A five-run third inning stood up for PawSox starter Clay Buchholz (2-1), who allowed one hit and struck out six in six innings, but shaky relief pitching kept 7,133 fans in their seats until the end.

The PawSox batted around in the third. Jonathan Van Every singled, Jeff Bailey walked and Joe Thurston advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. After Jed Lowrie popped out, Chris Carter cracked his 15th homer, a three-run blast to right field. Keith Ginter singled, Bryan Pritz walked, and Dusty Brown drove them home with a ground ball that rolled to the left-field corner for a double. The PawSox had only one baserunner the rest of the game.

Columbus loaded the bases in the seventh with three consecutive singles off Jon Switzer, but the lefty struck out Jemel Spearman, retired Dave Wallace on a pop to first and struck out Pete Orr. The Clippers scored two runs in the eighth. Jose Vaquedano allowed a hard-hit single to Tommy Murphy, an RBI double to left-center by Alex Escobar and a single to center by Frank Diaz. Hunter Jones relieved Vaquedano, and Larry B roadway singled to right, driving in Escobar. Thurston, playing second base, ended the threat when he fielded Jorge Padilla’s ground ball, stepped on the bag and relayed to first for the double play. Jones retired the side in the ninth and earned his first save.

• MATCHUPS TONIGHT: David Pauley (8-2, 3.89) will start for the PawSox against Dennis Tankersley (1-1, 4.63) with a 6:05 start on NESN.