The way Triple-A Pawtucket's Billy Buckner has pitched this month, that's not out of the question.

The veteran right-hander gave up one hit over six innings Sunday afternoon as the PawSox blanked the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 4-0, at McCoy Stadium.

The PawSox (61-48) moved into first place in the International League North Division, a half-game in front of the Yankees.

Buckner (3-5) retired his first nine batters before yielding a leadoff single to Chris Dickerson in the fourth.

The 28-year-old right-hander also walked two batters while plunking another but didn't allow the Yanks to advance a runner past second base. He threw 47 of 75 pitches for strikes.

Over his past three starts, Buckner -- a veteran of eight Minor League seasons (and parts of four in the Majors) -- is 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA. The stretch has lowered his season ERA to 4.95.

Relievers Mark Prior and Daniel Bard pitched seamless seventh and eighth frames. De facto closer -- and Red Sox No. 8 prospect -- Chris Carpenter gave up a two-out double to Jack Cust but nothing else in the ninth.

Having recovered from surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow shortly after the Cubs shipped him east in the Theo Epstein "trade" last offseason, Carpenter has allowed one run on three hits in his seven outings in Pawtucket's 'pen. He's more likely to pitch in the Majors this season than Buckner.

Both players were not available for postgame interviews as the team traveled by bus to Rochester.

Yanks starter Michael O'Connor (2-5) was charged with three runs on seven hits, including Jason Repko's solo homer in the third and Ryan Lavarnway's RBI double in the fifth, over five frames.