The Longest Streak Pt I – Mark Mulder’s first start off the disabled list went about as well as his last before going on it.  After giving up 9 runs in just 3+ innings against the Mets, Mulder has now given up 18 runs in his last 5 1/3 innings and has an ERA of 14.85 over his last 5 starts.  The Amazin’s had a 10-2 lead after 4 innings and held on to win 10-8 to win their 6^th straight game, the longest current winning streak in the majors.  Jose Reyes hit a 3-run home run in the third, his 15^th HR of the year, and Carlos Delgado had two more hits in the win.   He is batting .478 (11-for-23) with 3 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs and a 1.348 slugging percentage during the Mets’ current surge.   

 

The Longest Streak Pt IIa – The Red Sox took a 5-1 lead after 2 innings and the bullpen finally came through, holding off the Angels to earn a 5-4 win and end their losing streak at 6 games.  Big Papi got the Sox on the board in the first with his 45^th home run of the year, moving him past Mo Vaughn (1996) and Carl Yastrzemski (1967) and tying him with Manny Ramirez (2005) for 4^th on the Sox’ single season home run list.  Jim Rice is third on the list with 46 in 1978 and Ortiz is second with his 47 from last season.  The man they called Double X, Jimmy Foxx, set the Sox club record with 50 back in 1938.  For the Angels, the loss snapped their five game win streak and dropped them 5 games behind the A’s in the West.  Boston trails the Yankees by 7 in the East and the White Sox by 4 in the Wild Card. 

 

The Longest Streak Pt IIb – Boston’s win left the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies tied for the longest current losing streak in the majors at 5 games each.  Ben Sheets held the Rox to just 1 run on 6 hits over 7 innings in the Brewers 7-1 win.  Sheets did not walk a batter and has now walked just 6 in 57.1 innings while striking out 65, a 10.83 K/BB ratio.  Meanwhile in Florida, Scott Olsen won his 10^th game of the year, beating the Nats 9-7 to make the Marlins the first team since the ’52 Brooklyn Dodgers – and only the third since 1900 – to have three rookie pitchers with 10 wins each.  He was backed by Miguel Cabrera’s 100^th career home run which, at 23 years and 127 days, made him the 6^th youngest player in major league history to reach that milestone.  He is the fifth active player to reach that mark before his 24^th birthday, joining an exclusive club that includes Ken Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Andruw Jones.

 

The Longest Streak Pt III – Willy Taveras extended his hitting streak to a Houston Astros franchise record 26 games in a row with a fifth inning bunt single in the Astros 7-3 win over Houston.  It was the sixth time Tavares has extended his streak by way of a bunt and he is now 8-for-10 bunting for a hit during the streak, including 8 straight successful attempts, doubling his total of bunt hits for the year to 16.  Replays indicated that Tavares may have been out.  Jeff Kent had previously held the Astros record with his 25-game streak in 2004.  In the loss for Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. had two hits to give him 2,401 in his career, 4 behind Stuffy McInnis for 99^th all-time.  Tavares now has the longest current hit streak in the majors and the third longest this season behind those of Chase Utley (35 games) and Manny Ramirez (27). 

 

On Deck – Chicago and Detroit meet on Thursday for one more go-round in their big showdown series in Motown.  Jon Garland (14-4, 4.73) takes the ball for the pale hose looking to gain a split while Nate Robertson (11-9, 3.71) is on the bump for the cats, who are looking to take the series in this marquee match up.  Though he has won just once in four August decisions, Robertson has bounced back nicely from a rough July (5.97 ERA in 34.2 IP) to post a 2.96 mark in his first four starts of August.  He has faced the White Sox three times previously this year, going 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA.  Robertson gave up 6 runs (all earned) on 9 hits in 6.2 IP in his last outing against Chicago.  Garland, meanwhile, was 8-3 with a 5.37 ERA before the all-star break but is 6-1 with a 3.26 mark since.  He has lowered his BB/9 ratio from 2.06 to 1.34 while raising his K/9 ratio from 4.54 to 5.36.  He has allowed more than 1 run in just three of his last eight starts and more than 3 in just three of his last twelve starts.  Garland is 2-1 against the Tigers this year, and allowed just 1 earned run in 7 innings in his last start against them back on July 18.  His ERA for the year against Detroit is 6.63, having allowed 7 runs in 5 innings on April 13 and 6 runs in 7 innings on June 8.

 

Minor League Leaderboard – All Statistics through 8/22

Courtesy of milb.com

 

Triple-A

International League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Norris Hopper – LOU - .349                                            78. Jonathan Schuerholtz – RIC – .184

2. Josh Fields – CHA - .311                                                77. J.J. Furmaniak – IND - .208

3. Carlos Ruiz – SWB - .309                                                76. Sergio Santos – SYR - .212

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Kevin Witt – DUR – 36                                                   1. Kevin Witt – DUR - 99

2. Ryan Ludwick – TOL – 25                                              2. Garrett Jones – ROC - 85

3. Josh Phelps – TOL - 23                                                   3. Josh Phelps – TOL - 84

 

Pacific Coast League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. James Loney – LVG - .377                                               84. Junior Spivey – MEM - .200

2. Carlos Rivera – CSP - .337                                              83. John Nelson – MEM - .219

3. Alberto Callaspo – TUC - .336                                       82. Dave Krynzel – NAS - .230

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Scott McClain – SAC – 26                                              1t. Jon Knott – POR - 97

2. Jack Cust – POR – 25                                                      1t. Scott McClain – SAC - 97

3. Jon Knott – POR – 25                                                      3. Jeff Baker – CSP - 95

 

Mexican League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Derrick White – TIJ - .407                                               108. Guillermo Velasquez – PUE - .208

2. Geronimo Gil – MXO - .387                                             107. Flavio Romero – MTY - .242

3. Luis Suarez – TIG - .382                                                  106. Hector Guizar – COR - .244

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Edward Rios – AGU – 33                                                1. Eduardo Rios – AGU - 112

2. Jorge Alberto Vazquez – TIG – 31                                 2. Pedro Valdez – OAX - 100

3. Mendy Lopez – MTY – 30                                             3. Jorge Alberto Vazquez – TIG - 98

 

Double-A

Eastern League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Michel Abreu – BIN - .332                                              66. Corey Ragsdale – BIN - .199

2. Adam Lind – NHM - .310                                                65. Jake Wald – CT - .206

3. Trent Oeltjen – NBR - .301                                              64. Gerardo Alvarez – BOW - .213

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Randy Ruiz – TRE – 23                                                   1. Kory Casto – HAR - 77

2. Chip Cannon – NHM – 22                                              2t. Randy Ruiz – TRE - 76

3. Kory Casto – HAR – 20                                                  2t. Simon Pond – ALT - 76

 

Southern League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Joey Votto – CHA - .311                                                 49. Carlos Rojas – WTN - .207

2. James D’Antona – TEN - .308                                        48. Thomas Collaro – BIR - .213

3. Danny Richar – TEN - .303                                             47. Javier Colina – CHA - .216

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1t. Joey Votto – CHA – 21                                                  1. Craig Brazell – JAX - 71

1t. Craig Brazell – JAX – 21                                                2. Jerry Gil – TEN - 72

3t. Scott Moore – WTN – 20                                              3. Joey Votto – CHA - 71

3t. Jerry Gil – TEN – 20

 

Texas League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Billy Butler – WIC - .331                                                 52. Kila Kaaihue – WIC - .197

2. Ben Zobrist – COR - .327                                                51. Llyod Turner – MID - .208

3. Jonathan Ash – COR - .326                                            50. Dwaine Bacon – ARK - .219

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1t. Joseph Koshansky – TUL – 31                                    1. Joseph Koshanski – TUL - 106

1t. Nate Gold – TUL – 31                                                    2. Billy Butler – WIC - 96

3. Hunter Pence – COR – 28                                               3. Hunter Pence – COR - 93

 

Class-A – Advanced

California League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Chris Rahl – LNC - .335                                                   67. Chris Colton – INL - .234

2. Reid Brignac – VIS - .326                                                66. Simon Klink – SJO - .235

3t. Matthew Miller – MOD - .323                                       65. Skip Adams – LAK - .237

3t. Emilio Bonifacio – LNC - .323

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Brandon Burgess – LNC – 25                                        1. Chris Nowak – VIS - 95

2. Sean Rodriguez – RCQ – 24                                           2. Carlos Gonzalez – LNC - 94

3. Mark Reynolds – LNC – 23                                            3. Myron Leslie – STO - 91

 

Carolina League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Carl Loadenthal – MYR - .323                                        48. Matthew Whitney – KIN - .201

2. Wallace Torbert – SAL - .310                                         47. David Cook – WSH - .226

3. Brian Barton – KIN - .308                                                46. Stephen Head – KIN - .227

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Jason Fransz – FRD – 21                                                1. Jordan Brown – KIN - 85

2. Louis Santangelo – SAL – 18                                        2. Jason Fransz – FRD - 75

3. Nolan Reimold – FRD – 17                                             3. Christopher Kelly – WSW – 72

 

Florida State League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Corey Coles – SLU - .347                                                67. Michael Ferris – PBC - .205

2. Branden Florence – CLE - .335                                       66. Jai Miller – JUP - .209

3. Alexi Casilla – FTM - .331                                               65. Dante – Brinkley – JUP - .217

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1t. Brock Peterson – FTM – 19                                          1. Cody Ehlers – TAM - 103

1t. Ryan Patterson – DUN – 19                                          2. Branden Florence – CLE - 82

1t. Ryan Harvey – DAY - 19                                               3. Mike Carp – SLU – 81

 

Class-A

Midwest League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Erik Lis – BEL - .326                                                         85. Neil Walton – SWM - .196

2. Cameron Maybin – WMI - .321                                     84. Davy Gregg – PEO - .218

3. William Venable – FTW - .320                                       83. Christian Lopez – SWM - .220

               

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Jordan Renz – CED – 22                                                  1. Jeff Baisely – KCC - 102

2. Jeffrey Baisley – KCC – 21                                             2. William Venable – FTW - 81         

3. Randy Roth – QC – 18                                                    3t. Jordan Renz – CED – 80

                                                                                                3t. Matthew Joyce – WMI – 80

 

South Atlantic League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Lorenzo Cain – WVA - .313                                            100. Hector Pellot – HAG - .189

2. Jeremy Slayden – LAK - .311                                         99t. Mitch Einertson – LEX - .209

3. Eugenio Velez – AUG - .307                                           99t. Jose Castro – HAG - .209

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Sergio Pedroza – COL – 21                                             1. Brad Corley – HIC - 91

2. Ben Jones – CHA – 20                                                    2. Angel Salome – WVA - 85

3. Eric Campbell – ROM – 19                                              3. Eugenio Velez – AUG – 83

 

Class-A – Short Season

New York-Penn League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Wilmer Pino – STA - .360                                               74. Luis Segovia – LOW - .183

2. Scott Sizemore – ONE - .342                                           73. Joseph Callender – HVR - .185

3. Jordan Parraz – TRI - .337                                               72. Miles Durham – WPT - .188

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Mark Hamilton – STC – 8                                               1. Brennan Boesch – ONE – 46

2. Kyle Larsen – STA – 8                                                    2. Kyle Larsen – STA - 45

3. Christopher Vinyard – ABE – 7                                     3. Christopher Vinyard – ABE – 39

 

Northwest League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average 

1. Cyle Hankerd – YAK - .384                                            53. Jose Dilone – YAK - .163

2. Chad Huffman – EUG - .341                                            52. Jason Watson – YAK - .169

3. Daniel Mayora – TRI - .322                                            51. Geoff Strickland – TRI - .185

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1t. Christopher Davis – SPO - 13                                       1. Russell Canzier – BOI - 48

1t. Adam Witter – SKV – 13                                               2. Brad Miller – YAK - 47

1t. Russell Canzier – BOI – 13                                            3. Craig Cooper – EUG – 42

 

Rookie League

Appalachian League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Isaias Garcia – JCY - .359                                                64. Andrew Mead - .177

2. Larry Williams – DAN - .349                                          63. Alfred Ard - .190

3. Nevin Ashley – PRI - .331                                              62. Casey Mulligan - .198

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Mark Shorey – JCY – 12                                                 1. Mark Shorey – JCY - 43

2. Travis Snider – PUL – 11                                                2. Larry Williams – DAN - 42

3. Brandon Buckman – JCY – 8                                          3. Travis Snider – PUL – 41

 

Arizona Summer League – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Luis Durango – PAD - .410                                            58. Carlos Gutierrez – ATH - .182

2. Cedric Hunter – PAD - .380                                            57. Walter Correa – ATH - .190

3. Alex Fonseca – ANG - .360                                            56. Kyler – Burke – PAD - .208

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1t. Gerardo Avila – MAR – 7                                             1. Scott Lucas – ROY - 49

1t. Carlos Peguero – MAR – 7                                           2. Rayner Contreras – PAD - 45

1t. Welington Dotel – MAR – 7                                        3. Cedric Hunter – PAD – 41

 

Gulf Coast League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Gorkys Hernandez – TIG - .327                                      68. Cody Allen – MRL - .150

2. Adrian Cardenas – PHL - .318                                        67. Michael Jones – RDS - .176

3. Deibinson Romero – TWI - .313                                    66. Justin Reed – RDS - .180

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Christopher Carlson – TIG – 11                                     1. Christopher Carlson – TIG - 47

2. Michael Jones – RSX – 9                                                2.  Deibinson Romero – TWI - 38

3. Christopher Parmelee – 8                                                3. Christopher Parmelee – TWI – 32

 

Pioneer League Leaders – min 2.7 PA per team game

Batting Average

1. Kurt Mertins – IDF - .355                                                59. David Christensen – CAS - .200 

2. Cole Gillespie – HEL - .350                                              58. Brad Miller – HEL - .204

3. Justin Turner – BIL - .349                                               57. Ricardo Cruz – MIS - .206

 

Home Runs                                                                           Runs Batted In

1. Christopher Carter – GRF – 13                                       1. Chris Valaika – BIL - 56

2. Chris Errecart – HEL – 10                                                2. Chris Errecart – HEL - 48

3. Joshua Bell – OGD – 9                                                    3. Christopher Carter – GFR – 46

Questions or comments for Richard? Richard Van Zandt is a staff writer for Baseball Evolution who lives in San Francisco, California. You can reach him at richard@baseballevolution.com.