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Baez slugs third homer in three games

Top Cubs prospect continues to rake with Double-A Smokies
August 23, 2013

Top Cubs prospect Javier Baez hit his 34th homer of the Minor League season and third in three games Friday night, but Double-A Tennessee fell to visiting Mobile, 3-2.

After homering 17 times in 76 games in the Class A Advanced Florida State League, Baez needed only 45 Southern League games to reach the same total. He also singled and stole a base for the Smokies.

D-backs No. 13 prospect Nick Ahmed doubled and scored in the BayBears' three-run sixth inning. Starter Mark Serrano struck out six and allowed two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings for his fifth win.

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Jesse Biddle allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings as Reading edged New Hampshire, 2-1. The Phillies' top prospect lowered his ERA to 3.66 while winning for only the fifth time in 18 decisions.

Troy Hanzawa tripled and scored a run, while Phillies No. 2 prospect Maikel Franco had a sacrifice fly to collect his 95th RBI of the season.

Kenny Wilson reached base twice and scored the lone run for the Fisher Cats.

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Royals No. 5 prospect Jorge Bonifacio had three hits and two RBIs and Matt Fields hit a grand slam in Northwest Arkansas' 12-0 rout of Springfield.

Orlando Calixte, Kansas City's eighth-ranked prospect, chipped in a double, an RBI and two runs scored for the Naturals. Aaron Brooks struck out six and scattered seven hits over six innings to improve to 6-6.

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Michael Lee scattered eight hits and a walk over seven innings in Mississippi's 4-0 blanking of Huntsville. The 26-year-old right-hander has given up one earned run over his last three starts, helping to reduce his ERA to 3.64.

Jamie Pedroza was 3-for-3 and Braves No. 14 prospect Tommy La Stella doubled and scored a run for the M-Braves.

Eric Patterson had two hits for the Stars.

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Drew Granier gave up a run on two hits and five walks over five innings in Midland's 4-3 setback to Corpus Christi. The A's No. 14 prospect struck out six but fell to 2-6 with a 5.58 ERA in the Texas League.

Erik Castro went 2-for-2 with three walks, delivering a bases-loaded walk-off single in the ninth for the Hooks.

Mike Foltynewicz, the Astros' sixth-ranked prospect, allowed one hit before struggling in the fifth inning. He was charged with three runs in 4 2/3 frames.

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Andrew Heaney allowed an unearned run on five hits and two walks to improve to 4-1 with a 2.28 ERA in Jacksonville's 8-1 win at Montgomery. The Marlins' No. 5 prospect struck out five.

Derek Dietrich missed the cycle by a triple and had three RBIs, while Mark Canha homered, doubled, drove in three runs and scored three times for the Suns.

Rays No. 12 prospect Mikie Mahtook had two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored for the Biscuits.