Bowden Great, but PawSox Fall 1-0

(Buffalo, NY) - The Buffalo Bisons are mathematically eliminated from the I.L. playoff picture, and really, their offense did very little to play spoiler, but it was just enough to nip Pawtucket 1-0 on Saturday night at Dunn Tire Park. In the bottom of the first, Gil Velazquez, playing left field misplayed a fly ball hit by Trevor Crowe. Crowe was awarded a double. Two hitters later, Todd Linden blooped a ball into shallow left that scored the run. That was the extent of the offense for both teams. It turned into an epic pitchers duel between veteran John Halama and 21 year old Michael Bowden. Halama (8-4) went 7 shutout innings for the win, allowing 2 hits. Bowden (0-3) definitely deserved a better fate. Bowden worked 6 innings, at one point retiring 14 in a row. It marked the fourth time that Bowden has allowed just 1 earned run in six innings of work. Unfortunately, the PawSox offense seems to go dormant while Bowden is on the mound. Despite the loss, the Sox reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to 6, thanks to another Toledo loss. The series concludes on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Pawtucket (76-53) sends Devern Hansack (5-10) to the mound to face Bryan Bullington (4-7).