•HIGHLIGHTS: The PawSox trail the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees by 1½ games after splitting their two-game series. They split their season series, 8-8, after playing eight games against each other in 12 days. They could meet again in the playoffs in three weeks. It would be the first Triple-A playoff series between Red Sox and Yankees affiliates since the Columbus Clippers swept the PawSox in the 1991 Governors’ Cup series.

Edgar Martinez scattered four hits in six shutout innings and earned his seventh win against two losses. “I was very impressed with Edgar Martinez,” said manager Ron Johnson. “We needed that game tonight. We needed somebody to step up and give us an opportunity.”

First baseman Sandy Madera had two hits, his second being an eighth-inning solo home run just to the left of the 400-foot mark in center field. Jeff Corsaletti had two doubles.

The PawSox infield turned three double plays, and right fielder Sean Danielson threw out a runner at third to end the fifth inning.

•KEY TO THE GAME: A clutch relief performance by left-hander Hunter Jones. He replaced Beau Vaughan in the eighth inning with runners on first and second and walked Juan Miranda, loading the bases, but got cleanup hitter Shelley Duncan to pop up to catcher Dusty Brown, Ben Broussard to hit a sacrifice fly to left and Cody Ransom to strike out. He turned a potential big-inning into a one-run shutout spoiler.

“That was the biggest part of the game. That was the save time of the game, and he came in and did what he was supposed to do,” Johnson said.

•ROSTER MOVES: Pawtucket reinstated pitcher Kyle Snyder (1-3, 6.28) from the disabled list. He had been on the DL since June 3 with a recurring right groin strain.

•NEXT UP: The PawSox will be in Syracuse for games tonight and tomorrow night and in Buffalo for games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. David Pauley (13-4, 3.32) will pitch tonight against Davis Romero (5-9, 3.44).

mszostak@projo.com