Double-A Montgomery needed a playoff-caliber performance from Matt Buschmann on Monday night, and the 28-year-old right-hander certainly obliged.

Unfortunately, the Biscuits couldn't muster up some offense and now are in danger of missing the postseason. Buschmann allowed just one hit and one run in eight solid innings, but Montgomery was blanked, 1-0, by Jacksonville.

With the loss, the Biscuits fell one game behind the Suns -- who have won 10 straight games between the two sides including four in this five-game series -- for the Southern League South Division lead with only six games left to play in the second half.

"It's tough definitely," said the right-hander. "We feel like we've been playing hard all year. They're just a really good team, and for whatever reason, they have our number this year. They keep having one thing go their way, and we kind of have the opposite when we face them."

Buschmann (6-8) retired the first nine batters he faced. Then he issued an inning-opening free pass to Jake Smolinski before walking Zack Cox two batters later. Ben Lasater grounded out to first to move both runners into scoring position.

Kyle Skipworth singled -- the Suns' only hit of the evening -- to drive in Smolinski. Cox also tried to score an insurance run, but he was thrown out by right fielder Mikie Mahtook to end the frame.

That was the closest Jacksonville came to reaching any base the rest of the contest. Buschmann retired the final 12 batters he faced in a row before exiting in the eighth. Reliever Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, to maintain the one-hitter.

On the other side, Bryan Evans was busy pitching a shutout for the Suns. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and struck out five in his seven innings. James Leverton and A.J. Ramos shut the door with scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively.

Buschmann acknowledged the close affair with the Suns arms affected his performance in a positive way.

"The best part of a pitchers' duel from a pitcher's standpoint is that they're not long innings," he said. "You don't have to sit through 15-minute innings. Instead you're staying fresh, staying in your groove quickly and that really helps."

Since allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in five innings Aug. 6, the Vanderbilt product hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his next four starts, including Monday. In fact, he has allowed just a run in each of his last two outings for the Biscuits.

But even then, Buschmann, who owns a 3.96 ERA on the season, felt like he was at his absolute best Monday.

"It was the most consistent start I've had, I'd say," he added. "I wasn't doing anything too crazy or anything like that. The biggest part was the walks, I guess, but mostly I was in control the whole game. In that sense, it was probably the best start I've made."

Despite the unfortunate outcome, the 28-year-old Minor League veteran will keep his one goal the same in his upcoming final start of the regular season -- give the team a chance at the playoffs.

"At this point in the season with playoffs closing in, I just want to keep us close in every game I pitch," Buschmann said. "Keep us as close as I can because here we could use every win we can get."