• THE HIGHLIGHTS: First baseman Jeff Natale swatted a three-run homer in the second and second baseman Joe Thurston added a solo blow in the fifth. Reliever Jose Vaquedano (2-1) hurled four innings of one-run ball to pick up the win.

• THE TURNING POINT: Syracuse pinch-hitter Curtis Thigpen touched Pawtucket reliever Hunter Jones for a two-run double in the eighth to make it a one-run game, and Chiefs center fielder Buck Coats led off the ninth with a single. But Jones settled down to get Danny Sandoval and Russ Adams to pop out and Robinson Diaz to fly out to end the game.

• SHORT NIGHT FOR COLON: Bartolo Colon started for the PawSox, his third appearance in a comeback from a lower back injury. But he lasted only one inning, laboring in throwing 17 pitches and giving up two hits. Vaquedano replaced him to start the second. Colon reportedly was battling a stomach ailment.

• HOMERS A GOOD THING: The PawSox have homered in 46 of their last 64 games (93 total in that stretch). Pawtucket is 58-24 when it hits at least one round-tripper.

• GOING BATTY: Pawtucket left fielder Gil Velazquez lost his bat on a swing in the sixth, and it flew into the third-base stands. The young boy who picked it up looked like he wanted to keep it, but Velazquez walked over to the stands with every intention of getting it back.

The boy complied, handing over the bat and drawing boos for Velazquez from the Syracuse crowd. But Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson, coaching third, quickly turned diplomat by gesturing to the fan to stay there, that he’d get a replacement. And, after the inning, Johnson handed over another piece of lumber.

• MAGIC NUMBER: The PawSox’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to seven.