PawSox edge Charlotte 4-3

(WPRI) - The PawSox took advantage of great pitching by Billy Buckner and 4 errors by Charlotte to pick up a 4-3 win over the Southern Division champs on Saturday night in Carolina. 

Buckner (7-6) worked 7 and a third innings for the win.  Buckner scattered 5 hits and surrendered 3 runs while striking out 5.  Alex Wilson worked an inning and a third, leaving the bases loaded for Josh Fields with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. 

With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Josh Phegley struck out to end the game.  Buckner is 6-1 in his last 7 decisions.  Fields notched his second save.

Tony Thomas ignited the PawSox offense with a two run homer in the top of the third inning.  It was his ninth.  Thomas and Ryan Kalish had 2 hits each and Mike Rivera went 3-3.

The PawSox remain one half game out of the wild card lead with 9 games left on the 2012 schedule.  The series wraps up on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.  Charlie Shirek (11-4) faces Chris Hernandez (1-3).