BUFFALO, N.Y. — When you’re locked into fourth place in the dying days of the season, you take the positives where you can find them.

For the Pawtucket Red Sox that would be the hitting streak, now up to a franchise record 20 games compiled by Jacoby Ellsbury.

Ellsbury hit safely in both ends of the PawSox’ doubleheader with the Buffalo Bisons, staged at Dunn Tire Park in Buffalo.

The PawSox were blasted by Buffalo, 7-0 in the opener, but got even in the nightcap with a 7-4 win, their first over the Bisons in their last 11 tries.

Ellsbury enjoyed a big night, going 4-for-7, and swiping a base (his 32nd) to regain the sole lead in the International League.

After lacing a third-inning single in Game One to tie the club mark that had been jointly held by Dave Stapleton and Dave Berg, Ellsbury knocked Jeff Harris’ first pitch of the nightcap into center field to establish the new standard.

In the opener, PawSox starter David Pauley (6-6) was tagged for all seven Bison runs, including six in the bottom of the fifth.

A fielding error by Jed Lowrie, who was making the first appearance at third base of his three-year professional career, allowed two of those runs.

Pauley then gave up a two-run double to Andy Marte, the last man he faced before departing.

Pawtucket managed just five hits off Bison hurler John Koronka (3-3), who went the distance striking out six while walking one.

In the nightcap, the PawSox scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, then held on from there.

Starter Devern Hansack (9-7) while Travis Hughes picked up his 22nd save, extending his team record.

Although the PawSox have long since been out of the IL playoff picture, the club has been a key link in what has been a vibrant Red Sox player development chain.

Having moved the likes of reliever Manny Delcarmen and starter Kason Gabbard (since traded) to the big leagues, skipper Ron Johnson and his staff were handed the likes of Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Dusty Brown, and Clay Buchholz, all of whom earned promotions from Double-A Portland during the year.

And under Johnson, all of the above continue to develop nicely.

“To have guys move up through the system is the goal,” said Mike Hazen, Boston‘s Director of Player Development, while making the rounds of the club‘s affiliates. Another of the midseason arrivals is right-handed reliever Lincoln Holdzkom, who has become a valuable set-up man in the PawSox pen since his July 27 promotion.

Holdzkom, who was picked up by the Sox before the season after being waived by the Chicago Cubs, had allowed just one earned run in his previous eight outings, prior to last night.

Infielder Royce Clayton, who was signed Wednesday by Boston to a minor-league contract, made his PawSox’ debut in Game One. The 16-year big-league veteran is a candidate for a September call-up by Boston.