If the Butler BlueSox want to turn their slim chances into a Prospect League playoff berth, the team needs to get hot over the last week of the season.

Following an 11-1 win over Richmond (Ind.) Thursday, Butler was able to keep its momentum going.

Starting pitcher Matt Gordon overcame a rocky start and David Marcus tied a club record with his tenth home run of the season in Butler’s 7-4 triumph over Champion City at Kelly Automotive Park on Friday.

The Sox (16-11) were able to keep pace with East Division leader Chillicothe, which defeated Richmond 6-5 in 14 innings. With six games remaining in the regular season, Butler trails the Paints by 3 1/2 games.

Despite a thinning roster, Butler still has its eyes on extending its season.

“We’re a little gassed, but we seem to be getting some energy,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “We’re hitting the ball well. Hopefully, that can continue along with getting good pitching.”

Gordon, a Grove City High School product, allowed two runs on five hits during the first two frames. He then worked the next 4 1/3 innings with just one run given up.

“He was leaving the ball up early on,” Radwan said. “Their hitters were jumping on his fastball and laying off the off-speed stuff. But when you start throwing the off-speed stuff for strikes, they have to start swinging at it.”

Gordon, who was making his third start of the season and first at home, struck out seven and walked two in the victory.

“I didn’t have the greatest stuff tonight,” said Gordon, who recently completed his transfer from Binghamton (N.Y.) University to Slippery Rock. “But I was able to get my curveball going and fooled hitters with that.”

Trailing the Kings 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Sox began a three-run inning with one out against eventual losing pitcher Trent Armstrong.

Tyler Sullivan reached on a bunt single, then moved to third base on Danny Hrbek’s base hit. Matt Hansen doubled in one run to tie the game and that brought Marcus to the plate. His fly ball headed toward the right-center field gap and Champion City’s Luke Valutis made a diving catch. Hrbek tagged and scored from third and Hansen, taking advantage of a long throw and relay sequence by the Kings, raced from second to put the Sox up 5-3.

Butler would never trail again, adding a pair of runs in the eighth, including Marcus’ bomb that put him in the club’s record book. He matched Shayne Houck’s single-season total of 10 home runs in 2011. Marcus currently leads the league in home runs and RBI with 47.

“He’s been our clean-up hitter all season and has thrived in that position,” said Radwan. “He has the power to bat fourth, but also hits for average (.381).”

Gordon gave way to Jamie Switalski, who inherited a jam with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. But the latter struck out Thomas Bradey and got Valutis to ground out.

The Kings (14-12) managed a modest rally in the ninth against Butler reliever Tim Faix. He surrendered an RBI-single to Sean Kennedy, but struck out Bradey and Valutis, both of whom represented the tying run.

Butler hosts Kokomo (Ind.) Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. start.

Champion City 110 100 001 — 4 11 1

Butler 002 030 02x — 7 10 3

W: Matt Gordon 6.1 IP (7K, 2BB). L: Trent Armstrong 7.2 IP (3K, 1BB).

Champion City (14-12): Eric Peterson 1B R RBI, John Goodrich 1B R, Matthew Priebe 1B, Sean Kennedy 2-1B RBI, Thomas Bradey 1B, Ridge Winand 1B, Roman Gammell 1B 2B 2R, Connor Foley 1B, Cale Dineen 1B

Butler (16-11): Tyler Sullivan 1B 2B 2R, Danny Hrbek 2-1B R RBI, Matt Hansen 1B 2B R 2RBI, David Marcus HR 3RBI, Cameron Balego 2B R, Jared Grove 2B RBI, Michael Patrick 1B R

Saturday: Kokomo at Butler, 7:05 p.m