Lavarnway powers PawSox past Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Doug Mathis fired six scoreless innings at Buffalo on Thursday at Coca Cola Field, leading first place Pawtucket to a 5-0 win. Mathis (5-3) allowed just three hits (one each in the second, third and fourth innings). The right hander walked just one and struck out three. Daniel Bard chipped in with a pair of shutout innings of relief. Bard struck out four. He didn't allow a hit or a run. Garrett Mock finished the job with a scoreless ninth. It was the sixth shutout win for Pawtucket (42-25) this season.

Matt Harvey had a no-hitter for the Herd into the sixth inning. With 2 outs, Pedro Ciriaco singled, Josh Kroeger walked and Ryan Lavarnway belted a three run homer to give the PawSox enough to win. For Lavarnway, it was his sixth of the year. For good measure, the PawSox tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Kroeger and Tony Thomas knocked in the runs. The PawSox defense aided the cause by turning four double plays.

The series continues on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Tony Pena (0-4) faces Dylan Owen (3-3).