PAWTUCKET - Clay Buchholz didn't labor hard, nor long for the Pawtucket Red Sox Friday night at McCoy Stadium.

The highly prized, right-handed pitcher allowed just one hit through five innings of work, taking a 5-0 lead with him to the lockerroom after his day was done - the PawSox eventually taking a 5-2 win over the Columbus Clippers in International League play.

But why?

"With the (rain) delay, about 15 minutes, we're going to error on the side of caution," said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. "We're going to do what's right."

Buchholz threw just 51 pitches through five innings, 36 of which were for strikes. He didn't walk a batter, never reached a three-ball count and struck out a half-dozen. Buchholz retired the Columbus side in order in the first (with two strikeouts on 11 pitches) and fifth (with two strikeouts on eight pitches) innings. Only when shortstop Jed Lowrie committed an error in the fourth inning did Buchholz allow a leadoff batter to reach base.

Buchholz was ably aided defensively too as Lowrie initiated a double play for the first two outs of the fourth inning, while right fielder Sean Danielson made a terrific diving catch along the foul line for the second out of the third inning, stranding a Clipper runner at second base.

"If we don't have the delay, he'll probably go seven," added Johnson of Buchholz' work rate. "He's made good strides, his fastball was down."

Buchholz was 1-1 in his previous two outings for the PawSox. He threw just three innings, allowing six hits and throwing 73 pitches in a loss to Buffalo, then came back to scatter six hits over six innings (allowing an unearned run) in a 91-pitch win against Louisville.

"He was getting zoned in," added Johnson of Buchholz' pace. "I like this stuff. He's getting consistency where he wants it."

The PawSox gave Buchholz a five-run cushion in the third inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Chris Carter slugged a two-out, three-run homer to right field, his 15th round-tripper of the season. Then Dusty Brown uncorked a two-out, two-run double.

Jon VanEvery, the No. 9 batter in the order, led off the frame with a single and Jeff Bailey drew his second consecutive walk to set up Carter's homer. A single by Keith Ginter and a walk to Bryan Pitz set up Brown's sixth double of the season.

In winning for the fourth time over the past five games, the PawSox (45-31) handed the Clippers just their third loss over the past 11 games, while improving their IL-best home record to 25-14.

Foul Balls

Former King Philip High Warrior Mike Lyon, via Northeastern University, is off to a great start with the Yankees' Class A team at Staten Island, going 4-for-8 with a walk in two games ... The PawSox rank third in the IL in team batting at .269 with six players above that - Joe Thurston (.327), Jeff Bailey (.311) and Chris Carter (.299) being the top three ... Bailey drew a pair of walks, boosting his season total to 35. George Kottaras has a team-best 43 free passes ... Rick Eckstein, the brother of former Red Sox'er David Eckstein, is the Columbus hitting coach ... The PawSox have the third best fielding percentage in the IL with 48 errors through 72 games ... David Pauley (8-2) hurls for the PawSox in tonight's 6:05 game ... The PawSox will conduct the second of four youth clinics today on the field from 2-3:15 ... Highly-touted pitching prospect Michael Bowden, at AA-Portland, improved to 6-3 in beating New Britain, allowing his first HR of the season through 60 innings ... PawSox catcher Dusty Brown has 18 RBI over the past 20 games, including six homers ... PawSox shortstop Jed Lowrie, however, is just 3-for-27 over the past seven games ... RHP Jon Switzer, who came on in relief of Buchholz in the sixth inning, got out of a bases loaded jam (yielding three straight hits) with strikeouts for the first and third outs.