PAWTUCKET - Jeff Bailey hammered a solo home run in the eighth inning Friday to lift the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 7-6 win over Lehigh Valley in International League play at McCoy Stadium.

Bailey's home run was his 23rd of the season. The All-Star first baseman has 60 RBI.

Hunter Jones (4-2) worked two innings for the win and Chris Smith picked up his team-best ninth save in as many tries. It was Smith's first appearance since returning from his stint in Boston.

Joe Thurston and Chris Carter each hit home runs in the first inning as the PawSox opened a 3-0 lead after two innings. Devern Hansack didn't figure in the decision, but did give up two runs in the third, ending his string at 25 consecutive scoreless innings. Rob Woodward still holds the PawSox mark at 27.2 innings, set in 1986.

Thurston also had a two-run single in the fourth. Pawtucket has won all nine meetings with the Iron Pigs. The PawSox are now a season-high 24 games over the .500 plateau at 57-33. The series and homestand wrap up tonight (6:05 p.m.) as Clay Buchholz (4-1, 1.63) faces Brett Myers (0-1, 5.40).