By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – Pawtucket’s bullpen has been a bright spot to date, a claim backed up by a collective 2.68 ERA along with 21 saves in 24 opportunities.
On Sunday, Pawtucket’s relief corps let one slip through its fingers. Entrusted to a 4-1 lead with three outs to nail down, the PawSox watched in horror as the Durham Bulls pushed four runs across in the top of the ninth. Instead of celebrating, the PawSox were dealt a crushing 5-4 loss.
“We usually don’t do that,” Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said. “We did the most we could out of our offense [four runs on four hits], but we were in position to win the game. We haven’t been in too many situations this year when we have three-run leads in the ninth and not close it out.”
The culprit here was Hunter Jones. The left-hander was tagged for four runs (three earned) on four hits. Jones was seeking to register his first save, but instead was replaced after getting just one out in the ninth.
What Jones’ pitching line doesn’t reveal is that he was ahead 0-2 on the first two Durham batters in the ninth, yet one wound up hit by a pitch while the other reached via single.
Marcus McBeth replaced Jones, inheriting a bases loaded jam with Pawtucket up 4-3. An error by third baseman Travis Denker plated the tying run while a fielder’s choice re-claimed the lead for Durham.    
“It was our time, we were due today,” said Johnson. “We needed three outs and we couldn’t get them.”
The good news is that Michael Bowden got back on track after struggling in his three prior outings (0-2 with a 9.58 ERA). The right-hander tossed six innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits. Bowden walked one and struck out three.
Displaying pinpoint accuracy, Bowden threw 67 of his 87 pitches for strikes. “I told (Boston farm director) Mike Hazen that Michael reverted back to the form he showed earlier in the season,” said Johnson. “He pounded the strike zone and had a lot of missed balls.”
Bowden sported a 0.86 ERA when he took the mound May 23 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It soared to 2.58 after allowing 12 runs on 18 hits in 10 1/3 innings, but Sunday saw a return of pitcher who needs his fastball to setup his off-speed offerings.
“I was out there pressing, trying to do too much, but then I went back to basics. Mostly it’s been that I’ve tried too hard and have had no rhythm,” Bowden said. “(On Sunday) I didn’t throw too many off-speed pitches. I probably threw around 20, which isn’t a lot but some. I threw them for strikes when I needed to so I could show (Durham) that I could keep them off-balance.”    
Pawtucket had one hit through six innings and trailed, 1-0. The locals drew even when Freddy Guzman blooped a single down the right field line, scoring Jeff Natale. Two batters later, Denker cleared the bases with a double, driving the first pitch he saw from Durham reliever Dale Thayer to the gap in right-center.
Durham starter Matt DeSalvo pitched scoreless ball through 5 1/3 innings. The former New York Yankee walked three and struck out four.
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EXTRA BASES: Chris Carter (hamstring) was held back for the second straight day. The outfielder/first baseman appeared in good spirits and believes he shouldn’t be sidelined for too much longer. … Pitching matchup on tap for tonight features Enrique Gonzalez (5-5, 5.04 ERA) for Pawtucket and Wade Davis (5-3, 3.51 ERA) for Durham. … Tonight is Cox Legends Night with former Red Sox hurlers Bill Monbouquette and Brian Rose signing autographs from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Cox Fan Center, located behind Section 7. … Bat Night, which was held Friday, was revisited yesterday afternoon in the fifth inning. Durham’s Jon Weber lost his grip, the bat helicoptering into the second row of Section 2. Boos rang down as the Durham bench retrieved the bat, but they were quickly halted after another bat made its way up to the fan, who was unhurt. … In the sixth Denker made a nice running grab of a foul ball in which the momentum carried the third baseman into the Pawtucket dugout. … The PawSox are now 15-5 in day games. … Best wishes to McCoy public address announcer Jim Martin as he recovers from kidney stones.
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Durham    000 100 004 – 5-10-1
Pawtucket    000 000 400 – 4-4-1
Matt DeSalvo, Joe Bateman (6), Dale Thayer (7), Calvin Medlock (7) and Craig Albernaz. Michael Bowden, Randor Bierd (7), Hunter Jones (8), Marcus McBeth (9) and Carlos Maldonado. 2B: John Jaso, Brandon Chaves; Freddy Guzman 2, Travis Denker.