HIGHLIGHTS: Bartolo Colon closed out the regular season with the PawSox by turning in a solid six-inning performance yesterday. It’s likely he could pitch again for Pawtucket in the playoffs, possibly in Game Four on Saturday in Scranton. The veteran right-hander, who has spent most of the season in Pawtucket rehabbing a series of injuries, allowed only one run on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. He threw 66 pitches (48 strikes) and his velocity topped out at 91 mph. “I was very pleased with him, as I think he is,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “I don’t worry about the velocity with a guy like that because, you know, no matter what it was today, when he goes to the big leagues it’ll probably bump up a little bit. I was pleased with everything today.” … Jeff Natale had an outstanding day at the plate for the PawSox. He had three hits and three RBI, including a two-run homer in the third inning. Teammate Keith Ginter had two hits, two RBI and scored twice.

•KEY OF THE GAME: The PawSox pounded the IronPigs for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning en route to a 7-0 advantage. Ginter provided a two-run single while Sean Danielson, Josh Wilson and Jason Lane added an RBI each in the inning.

Normally, it’s not about wins and losses at the minor-league level because the parent Red Sox are primarily concerned with development. But every once in a while a winning season is worth it, too.

“It’s about as good as it gets,” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. “I’ve been managing for 17 years in the minors, and as a developer and evaluator, this season has come together as good as you could have scripted with all the guys in the big leagues, and with other guys coming up, and to have continued success is really good stuff.”

This season the PawSox finished with an 85-58 record and had a solid mix of winning and development. That is clearly noticeable with the number of players who have helped the Red Sox so far in 2008.

Not including September call-ups, Johnson has sent 16 different players to Boston this season, and most have made significant contributions, including Jed Lowrie, Joe Thurston, David Pauley, Craig Hansen, Bryan Corey, Brandon Moss, Jonathan Van Every, Chris Smith, Bartolo Colon, Justin Masterson, Chris Carter, Clay Buchholz, Charlie Zink, Jeff Bailey, David Ross and Michael Bowden.

The biggest impact so far has been made by Lowrie, who has been recalled three times, with the latest being the most important after shortstop Julio Lugo was placed on the disabled list on July 12 with a quadriceps injury. Lowrie, a rookie, has been outstanding at the plate and in the field, and may have rooted himself into that position permanently.

On the mound, Masterson has also been a key factor for the Red Sox, as a starter and now in the bullpen. Buchholz had some growing pains this season in the big leagues, but he no doubt will be an important part of the club’s rotation in the near future. Bowden proved in his major-league debut on Saturday that he’ll be a future starter, too.

Now that the Portland Sea Dogs have the formality of their regular season out of the way, they can look to the playoffs.

Following the 4-1 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler announced his starting rotation for the first-round series against the Trenton Thunder.

The big news is Clay Buchholz is staying put and is scheduled to pitch Game 2 in Trenton on Thursday. Kris Johnson will start Game 1 on Wednesday.

Buchholz came to the Sea Dogs Aug. 23 from Boston, where he had struggled (2-9, 6.75 ERA). He has looked sharp in two starts with the Sea Dogs (1-0, 1.80, 18 strikeouts in 15 innings), but the Red Sox will keep him in Double-A for now.

"In the grand scheme of things, it's not where he wants to be," Beyeler said. "We'll take it.

"I'd like to see him pitch in the big leagues. Hopefully this is a step and a process with him. If we can get him a good start here and maybe that will get him some good attention, and get him where he wants to be. That's what it's all about.

"We want to get him where he needs to be for the organization. Right now, that's here, and we'll take advantage of it."

Buchholz began last season with the Sea Dogs before moving up the organization and landing in the majors.

On Sunday, Buchholz took part in the celebration after the Sea Dogs clinched a playoff spot. On Monday he readied himself for a bus ride to Trenton and another start in the minors.

"I'm having a good time with it," Buchholz said. "I didn't get to go to the playoffs with (Portland) last year. I'm glad to be back and try to help them get something going and get another ring."

The Sea Dogs, who are making their fourth straight playoff appearance, won the Eastern League title in 2006.

In Monday's game, Portland starter Dustin Richardson (7-10) put in one of his longest outings (seven innings) and one of his finest (four hits, two runs, one walk and 11 strikeouts).

he Lancaster JetHawks clinched their second championship – the second half title - in 2008, on the final day of the regular season. The Lake Elsinore Storm, who entered Labor Day a game behind the JetHawks, lost assuring Lancaster of the second half title to go along with their first half championship. Lancaster will be the #1 seed in the South Division Playoffs. On Labor Day, The JetHawks lost a 6-4 decision of their own to San Jose.

Daniel Nava was 2-4 to finish the season with a .341 batting average. With five plate appearances Monday, he now has enough to qualify for the California League batting title becoming the second consecutive JetHawk after Bubba Bell who hit .370 in 2007, to lead the league in hitting.

Lancaster hopped out to a 2-0 lead. 3B Zak Farkes drilled a solo homerun in the second inning and added an RBI single in the fourth to help his club to the early advantage. Meanwhile, southpaw Felix Doubrant rolled through the first four innings unscathed. However, he gave up a two-run homer to San Jose DH Tyler Graham in the fifth to tie the game. Doubront gave up two runs in five innings, walking one and striking out six.

The Giants used three straight singles against JetHawks reliever Kyle Fernandes in the sixth to take a 3-2. San Jose added three runs off Josh Papelbon in the seventh on a pair of two-out doubles.

The division crown may be locked up, but a minor league baseball team remains a work in progress until the day the season is over.

Tri-City 8, Lowell 5

The Lowell Spinners dropped their second consecutive game since clinching the Stedler Division championship, falling to the Tri-City ValleyCats 8-5 last night at LeLacheur Park.

After three innings of no offense, the ValleyCats broke through against the New York-Penn League's stingiest pitcher, Kyle Weiland, and kept charging against the Lowell bullpen.

Weiland, who entered with the lowest earned run average in the New York-Penn League (1.13), breezed through the ValleyCats' lineup in the first three innings, starting each of the first nine batters off with a first pitch strike and retiring each batter in order while not allowing a hit.

The second trip through proved less than successful. Tri-City leadoff hitter J.B. Shuck started the fourth inning by legging out a double, and he scored two batters later when Phil Disher squared up a Weiland pitch for an RBI double into the right center field gap.

Disher, the NY-Penn League's second-ranked RBI man and home run hitter, scored when Spinners center fielder Peter Hissey bobbled Jason Castro's single. David Flores, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Jon Gaston's two-out triple to make the score 3-1.

"I think they made adjustments to him," Spinners manager Gary DiSarcina said of Weiland's outing. "He pounded the strike zone early. The second time through they forced him to get the ball up a little bit. He hung a change-up up in the zone, the ball that was smoked into the right center field gap, his two-seamer started to flaten out a little bit. They did a good job adjusting to him."