By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – The paths of Clay Buchholz and John Smoltz have been intertwined since January 13, the day Boston inked Smoltz to a one-year deal.
Boston signed off on the pact believing the 42-year-old Smoltz, who currently is working his way back from right shoulder surgery, still had a few bullets left. The addition of Smoltz gave the Red Sox six veteran starters. That meant somebody was going to get bumped down a few rungs, that person being Buchholz.
In short, Smoltz is the main reason why Buchholz is still taking up residency in the minors. Thursday night saw Buchholz pitch seven innings of three-run ball in Pawtucket’s 7-3 victory over Louisville. It was simply the latest chapter of what has been a brilliant campaign for the 24-year-old beanpole from Texas, one that features a 1.74 ERA.
“It’s a 180-degree turn from where I was last year,” admitted Buchholz. “Obviously I was up a level, but I think the pitches I’m throwing right now, I could live with those in the big leagues.”
If Buchholz was housed in any other organization, chances are a 4-0 record along with 57 strikeouts in 62 innings would constitute as enough evidence to merit a call-up. Just this week the Atlanta Braves promoted phenom Tommy Hanson, who in 66 1/3 innings with Gwinnett whiffed 90 and posted a 1.49 ERA.
Buchholz, however, continues to bide his time in Pawtucket. No matter how many goose eggs he tosses, the reality is that he’s simply behind Smoltz on depth chart.
“I’m in a weird position right now, given the things that are going on in this organization,” Buchholz said. “They have a couple of guys who they are waiting on. Everyone knows, for me to go up, that I’m probably third in line. It’s tough to deal with sometimes, but you have to keep going out every fifth day and throw and help (Pawtucket) win.”
Boston went out and acquired seasoned arms like Smoltz and Brad Penny after Buchholz endured a nightmare of a 2008 season, one that saw him start off as the Red Sox’ No. 5 starter and finish up trying to save face in Double-A Portland. Buchholz understands his poor performance was the rationale behind the Red Sox front office stockpiling arms for the six-month grind.
Beginning tonight, when Smoltz makes a rehab start for Pawtucket against the Bats, Buchholz gets to share the same clubhouse with a future Hall of Famer. The PawSox have already set up a locker for Smoltz, placing a No. 29 jersey on a hanger.
“You hope the best for him. (Smoltz) is a great guy from the little time I’ve gotten to spend with him,” said Buchholz. “If something happens down the road that they need someone to come in and fill some shoes, hopefully I’m the first guy they go to.”
The seven runs the PawSox scored is more than the local’s output over the prior three ballgames (six). Chris Carter belted a solo home run (No. 3) while Paul McAnulty had two hits and two RBI. Shortstop Gil Velazquez added two hits, one a double, and drove in one.
Buchholz, who finished with five strikeouts and zero walks, ran into trouble in the fifth. A 2-0 Pawtucket lead was vanquished when Wes Bankston drilled a two-run blast, the pitch a 77 mph curveball. Buchholz would give up two more hits and a run in the frame, but the damage was halted thanks to inducing two groundball outs that got the righty back in the dugout.
“That would have been a big deal for me last year,” said Buchholz. “I’ve said it a million times that I get paid to pitch and they get paid to hit. You can’t win every battle.”
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EXTRA BASES: Tonight is Bat Night at McCoy, regarded as one of most anticipated giveaways of the season (for the first 4,000 young fans). As an added bonus tonight’s scheduled starting pitcher for the PawSox is Smoltz, who is expected to work in the neighborhood of seven innings or 90 pitches. Smoltz becomes the seventh different Red Sox to rehab with the PawSox in 2009, joining Mark Kotsay, Rocco Baldelli, Jonathan Van Every, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Julio Lugo and Kevin Youkilis. General admission tickets are still available for tonight. … Tonight’s forecast calls for a steady rain. If that’s the case, Smoltz in all likelihood would be pushed back to Saturday night. Smoltz is slated to pitch next Thursday in Syracuse. … Talk about timing history just right. Minor league umpire R.J. Thompson, Jr., who on Wednesday was behind home plate for Pawtucket vs. Louisville, was summoned to the Nation’s Capital to work first base for the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader between Washington and San Francisco. That turned to be the game in which veteran hurler Randy Johnson notched career victory No. 300.  Whenever there’s doubleheader in the majors, an umpire is “purchased” from the minors in order to make sure the same person does not work the plate in both games. … Bats manager Rick Sweet was ejected in the fifth inning after arguing Freddy Guzman stepped out of the baseline. Guzman was tying to avoid the tag in a rundown that eventually turned into a double steal for the PawSox.
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Louisville    000 030 000 --- 3-6-2
Pawtucket    011 030 20x – 7-9-0
Sam LeCure, Adam Pettyjohn (6), Federico Baez (7) and Brian Peterson. Clay Buchholz, Jose Vaquedano (8) and Dusty Brown. 2B: Drew Sutton, Paul McAnulty, Gil Velazquez. HR: Wes Bankston, Chris Carter.