THE HIGHLIGHTS: Syracuse left fielder Travis Snider capped a two-run ninth-inning rally with a two-out RBI single that drove in Hector Luna with the winning run. Chris Smith (1-4) was the loser. Third baseman Keith Ginter had given Pawtucket a 6-5 lead with a two-run shot in the top of the ninth.

Syracuse scored the tying run on a pickoff play that went awry in the ninth. With Luna on first and Buck Coats on third, Smith faked a throw to third and threw to first. The ball hit Luna, got away, and allowed Coats to come home.

“He has one of the better third-to-first moves you’ll see,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “That (attempt) was by design. It was going to be close. It was just one of those things.”

POWER OUTAGE: Pawtucket’s power surge was something of a surprise. PawSox outfielder Jeff Bailey was recalled to Boston yesterday, to fill in for the injured Mike Lowell. Bailey has 25 homers this year. Pawtucket was already hurting in the big lumber department, with outfielders Chris Carter (24 homers) and Jonathan Van Every (24 homers) both out with oblique injuries.

OR MAYBE NOT: Despite the dearth of big bats, first baseman Sandy Madera and shortstop Josh Wilson joined Ginter in homering.

“I continually am impressed with the effort and fight in this ball club,” Johnson said. “We’ve had other guys step up. That’s what you are looking for in these guys.”

BACK IN ACTION: PawSox starter David Pauley returned to the team after spending one day in Boston. He was recalled Wednesday to give Boston an extra arm in the bullpen after its 19-17 win over Texas on Tuesday. Pauley was not used by the Red Sox. Yesterday, he gave up eight hits and four runs in five innings, striking out seven.

“It was a fair outing for David,” Johnson said. “In his defense, he’s had an eventful two days. They have some pretty good hitters in their lineup.”

SYRACUSE SPOILERS: The Chiefs are long gone from the pennant race, but the PawSox’ success down the stretch will in large part be intertwined with Syracuse. Pawtucket faces Syracuse four more times in the regular season and then will turn into the Chiefs’ biggest rooters when that team is host to North Division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a three-game series to close the regular season.

Although Pawtucket lost, Toledo’s loss to Louisville on yesterday lowered the PawSox’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth to eight.