ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUFFALO - The Pawtucket Red Sox swept a doubleheader in Buffalo Thursday afternoon, beating the Bisons by scores of 2-0 and 9-1.

Winners of eight of their last nine games, the PawSox improved their record to 25-17 overall. Perhaps more importantly, Bartolo Colon was in Cy Young form for Pawtucket as he pitched six shutout innings in the first game of the twin-bill.

Colon retired the first 11 batters he faced before giving up a single to Buffalo's Michael Aubrey, the only hit Colon would allow. The 2005 Cy Young winner needed just 64 pitches to get through the outing, striking out four while not allowing a walk. In his three outings with Pawtucket, Colon (2-0, 0.64 ERA) has worked 14 innings, giving up six hits, a run and a walk while striking out 11.

With Boston starter Clay Buchholz landing on the disabled list this past week, Colon could be ready for a return to the Major Leagues. Chris Smith picked up his fourth save in as many tries for Pawtucket in the opener. Pawtucket scored both of its runs in the top of the first inning of Buffalo starter Adam Miller, who walked the first two batters of the game - Jeff Bailey and Joe Thurston. George Kottaras had an RBI-single and Sandy Madera a sacrifice fly for the two runs.

In the nightcap, David Pauley improved to 4-2 on the season with five shutout innings. Michael Tejera worked the sixth inning and Eric Hull came on in the seventh to mop up.

The bats were booming as Bailey had a double and a homer, his fifth homer and 13th RBI over a five-game span.

Chad Spann belted his first home run, a three-run shot and Thurston added three hits.