California League Notebook

Bakersfield Blaze (Texas Rangers)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Won the final two games of their series against Visalia at home. Took two of three games at Stockton. Lost the first two games of a series at Visalia. Overall: 4-3.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Andrew Walker allowed one run in seven innings in his start this week... 3B Chris Davis' hitting streak is over, but he still has four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games ... 1B Freddie Thon is batting .381 over the last 10 games.

WHO'S NOT: RH Michael Schlact allowed seven runs, via five hits and five walks, in 6 2/3 innings in his lastest rough start ... LHP Ryan Knippschild has given up 11 runs on 13 hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings over his last three relief appearances ... SS David Peterson is 2-for-20 in his last six games.

NEWS AND NOTES: Chris Davis tied the California League record for hitting streak, set by Modesto's Brent Gates in 1992 at 35 games, on Wednesday ... The streak ended Thursday as Davis took a walk in his final at-bat, prolonging a Blaze rally, which hitting coach Brant Brown called "the ultimate team at-bat." ... OF Jon Weber was traded and then promoted to Triple-A Durham, making his debut July 18 ... Weber, who's been at Triple-A with three other organizations, batted .356 and slugged .550 during his month with the Blaze.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "If it had to end, I wanted it to end on a win. I had a lot of pitches to work with, but I just couldn't get it done tonight." -- 3B Chris Davis, to The Bakersfield Californian, on the end of his 35-game hitting streak.

High Desert Mavericks (Seattle Mariners)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Lost the final two games against Lake Elsinore, which completed a sweep. Lost two of three games at home to Modesto. Dropped the Friday and Saturday games at Lake Elsinore. Overall: 1-6.

WHO'S HOT: OF Kevin Reynolds is batting .389 in his last six games ... OF Michael Saunders hit a grand slam this week and is hitting .375 over the last 10 games ... SS Carlos Triunfel, the 17-year-old marvel, is hitting .293 over his last nine games.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Cibney Bello allowed five runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings Saturday at Lake Elsinore ... RHP Aaron Jensen gave up a three-run home run in the first inning Wednesday to Modesto's Neil Wilson, en route to seven runs (six earned) in six-plus innings, and has now given up 13 runs in the first inning in 11 starts ... LHP Steve Uhlmansiek allowed five runs in the ninth inning Thursday in an 11-2 loss to the Nuts ... C Adam Moore is 1-for-11 and batting .156 over his last eight games.

NEWS AND NOTES: Entering Sunday, the Mavs had lost four straight, and 12 of 14 games ... In their last 28 games, they've surrendered 10 or more runs 13 times, and given up seven runs in 14 of their last 15 games.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "It was awesome. When I hit that home run, coming around and going back to the dugout my mom, my wife Lori and my dad were sitting right there. I looked at him and tried to give him a smile and wink, and he had a smile on his [face]." -- Mavs 1B Andy Hargrove, to The Victorville Daily Press, on hitting a home run with his father -- former Major League player and manager Mike Hargrove -- sitting in the stands.

Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Dodgers)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Lost the last two games at San Jose. Losing streak extended to five games by getting swept at Rancho Cucamonga. Dropped a sixth straight at home against Lancaster to start the weekend, but won Saturday's game. Overall: 1-6.

WHO'S HOT: INF Shane Justis is hitting .344 with a homer and eight RBIs over the last 10 games ... OF Adam Godwin is 7-for-20 over his last five games ... RHP Jesus Rodriguez is working on 11 scoreless innings over his last three games ... RHP Jesus Castillo allowed 10 hits in six innings, but only two runs in his last start.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Javy Guerra has walked 14 batters in his last three starts, extending his league lead in walks, including four walks in four innings (and five runs on eight hits) in Friday's 11-4 loss to Lancaster -- and has given up 12 runs in his last 8 2/3 innings ... RHP Francisco Felix also struggled with his control and command in the same game, walking the bases loaded, then giving up a grand slam to Salvador Paniagua -- and has allowed 14 runs in his last 8 1/3 innings ... OF Bridger Hunt is hitting .194 over his last eight games.

NEWS AND NOTES: When Sixers pitching coach Charlie Hough was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Quakes for arguing about the lack of an infield fly rule, he said it was the first time since 1985 that he was ejected from a game -- back when he still was pitching, and that was due to balls and strikes ... Inland Empire had a moment of silence on Friday for the passing of long-time season-ticket holder Mike Gile, 54, who had been a season-ticket holder since at least 1988 ... 1B Russell Mitchell was hit by a pitch in the elbow in Thursday's game and had to depart the game; he also didn't play Friday ... The Sixers' losing streak reached six games, their longest since June 2-7 of last year, before snapping it Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Surfing is waiting a lot. Waiting for the right wave. If you go at the wrong time, you'll be in trouble. In baseball, you have to let the game come to you. You have to wait for the right pitch. In that way, surfing and baseball are very similar." -- INF Travis Denker, to The San Bernardino Sun, about how his childhood activity has helped him with his current profession.

Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Victorious in the last two games at High Desert. Swept three games at Lancaster. Extended their winning streak to 12 games with victories Friday and Saturday at home against High Desert. Overall: 7-0

MIRACLE COMEBACK: The latest installment in what's been some epic games between Lake Elsinore and Lancaster took place Wednesday night, as the Storm scored nine runs in the eighth inning to tie the game at 12-12. The Storm scored six in the 10th inning, allowed two runs in the bottom of the 10th, and won the game, 18-14. Earlier this year, Lake Elsinore beat Lancaster, 30-0. The next night, Lancaster used a four-homer game by Aaron Bates to rally from a 10-run deficit. All those games were played at the uber-offensive friendly ballpark in Lancaster.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Brooks Dunn won his second consecutive start, allowing one run over six strong innings, and has gone three straight starts allowing just one run ... OF Mike Baxter is hitting .385 over his last six games ... New arrival Juan Ciriaco, a shortstop, is batting .556 over his last six games ... 3B David Freese is hitting .422 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games ... RHP Richie Daigle pitched six scoreless innings this week and has allowed one rn in his last 11 innings.

WHO'S NOT: 1B Kyle Blanks is batting just .231 over his last nine games, but does have two home runs and 11 RBIs over that span ... INF Craig Cooper is hitting .138 over his last nine games ... RHP Grant Varnell has allowed 11 runs in 4 2/3 innings over five games.

NEWS AND NOTES: Equaled the franchise high winning streak, set in 1994, by winning their 11th in a row Friday night, and set the record with a 12th straight win Saturday ... LHP Shawn Estes, a 12-year Major Leaguer, made his first Cal League start on the rehab trail from an elbow injury, and allowed three hits in four scoreless innings ... C Brandon Gottier was added to the roster from Class A Fort Wayne.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "It's easy to pitch when they're putting up 10 runs a game for you. You just go out there and throw strikes and let the defense makes plays for you. They made some good plays tonight. It's a lot of fun playing when you're playing like this." -- Pitcher Nathan Culp, to The North County Times, after pitching five scoreless innings in an 11-0 win Friday night over High Desert.

Lancaster JetHawks (Boston Red Sox)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Split the final two games at Rancho Cucamonga, including losing the rubber game of the series. Were swept three games at home by Lake Elsinore. Won the opener of the weekend series against Inland Empire, then lost the second game. Overall: 2-5.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Travis Beazley bounced back from a bad debut outing, going seven innings while allowing two runs and five hits Friday night in a win over Inland Empire ... 3B Zach Daeges is batting .306 over his last nine games ... 2B Tony Granadillo is batting .400 over his last 10 games ... INF Ryan Khoury is batting .439 over his last nine games.

WHO'S NOT: C Mark Wagner is batting .161 over his last eight games ... RHP John Barnes has given up 10 runs and walked 14 in his last 10 2/3 innings ... LHP Kyle Fernandez has given up six runs in his last 2 2/3 innings ... RHP Travis Beazley has surrendered 12 hits and eight runs over his last two starts.

NEWS AND NOTES: OF Bubba Bell has departed for Double-A, but he can surprisingly still can win the Cal League batting title as his .370 batting average still is tops in the league and he has exactly the minimum number of plate appearances (378) to qualify for the batting title for a 140-game season ... If Bell wins the batting title, he would be the fourth player from Lancaster to win a batting title since the team moved there in 1996 ... The last time somebody batted as high as Bell was former Major Leaguer Kevin McReynolds, who hit .372 in 1982 for Reno.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I don't really think about it, but if there's any chance to get to second, I'll take the chance and put the pressure on the defense." -- INF Zach Daegus, to The Antelope Valley Press, on his league-leading 38 doubles.

Modesto Nuts (Colorado Rockies)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Defeated Stockton on Sunday and Monday to conclude a weekend sweep. Won two of three games at High Desert. Won the opener at Rancho Cucamonga, then scored seven runs in the eighth to rally to a 13-8 win Saturday. Overall: 6-1.

WHO'S HOT: SS Chris Nelson had five doubles in a three-game stretch this week, and his three home runs this week gave him eight in the last 23 days ... RHP Brandon Hynick was down, 2-0, after two batters, but didn't allow any additional runs over eight innings Thursday at High Desert, picking up his league-leading 12th victory ... 1B Jeff Kindel extended his hitting streak to 16 games on Friday, which eclipses the previous high by a Modesto hitter, 15 games by Daniel Carte, and Kindel is up to 17 games at week's end.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Jonathan George couldn't convert his first ninth-inning save opportunity this year, giving up three runs Tuesday in the opener at High Desert and taking the loss, but bounced back with a two-inning save Saturday night ... RHP Chaz Roe was working on an outstanding start, one run in 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts -- but then allowed two singles, a walk and a grand slam to end his night with five runs allowed.

NEWS AND NOTES: Stunningly, the Modesto Nuts still haven't seen a player from their Opening Night roster promoted ... RHP Alan Johnson made two spot starts at Double-A Tulsa, but returned after each start ... In their only visit to High Desert this year, the Nuts had 47 hits in the three-game series ... they hit 10 home runs, by eight different players, which was their season high for a series of any length ... RHP Pedro Strop wasn't available for a few days, due to a mild groin pull, but he struck out the side Thursday at High Desert and earned his fourth save Friday in Rancho Cucamonga ... OF Cole Garner departed Thursday's game in the fifth inning with sore feet, and was replaced by OF Daniel Carte, who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs off the bench.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "They were swinging early. I was throwing strikes, not good strikes, but they weren't hitting them too hard. They kind of helped me out to keep me in the game for as long as I did, because of early contact and early outs. I wasn't feeling good with my location, but I was able to locate a few fastballs inside, got some popouts. Just some big outs there. I've gotten out of a couple of those jams this year." -- RHP Brandon Hynick, to The Victorville Daily Press, after giving up two runs in the first inning and no additional runs over the next seven innings.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LA Angels of Anaheim)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Split the final two games at Lancaster. Swept three games from Inland Empire. Lost the opener of a weekend series at home to Modesto, and blew two four-run leads Saturday for another loss. Overall: 4-3.

WHO'S HOT: SS Hainley Statia is hitting .359 over the last nine games ... 1B/OF Cliff Remole is batting .325 over his last 10 games ... OF Chris Pettit, after a slow start in the Cal League, continues to tear up the league and is batting .333 over his last 10 games with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

WHO'S NOT: 2B Larry Infante is batting .208 in his last seven games ... INF Josh LeBlanc is hitting just .240 over the last nine games ... OF Jordan Renz has two home runs in his last eight games, but hitting only .147 in the last eight games.

NEWS AND NOTES: RHP Stephen Marek was activated from the disabled list before Friday's game, and gave up five runs on five hits and five walks in five innings ... To make room for Marek on the roster, RHP Robert Coello returned to the Arizona Rookie League ... RHP David Austen, who is recovering from a torn labrum, was sent to Double-A Arkansas.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "He just hasn't been consistent. He really hasn't gotten away with anything either. It is one of those things. Every mistake he has made has gotten hit." -- Quakes manager Bobby Mitchell, to The Daily Bulletin, on the performance of starter Marek.

San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Won the final two games at home against Inland Empire. Lost two of three games at Visalia. Dropped the opener of the weekend series at Stockton, but won the second game. Overall: 4-3.

WHO'S HOT: 2B Brad Boyer extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games Friday, and also remained perfect in stolen base attempts this year (15-for-15) with a swiped bag in the second inning ... LHP Paul Oseguera allowed one unearned in 6 2/3 innings Saturday, picking up his seventh victory and lowering his ERA to 2.89 this year ... RHP Sergio Romo has struck out 10 in five scoreless innings ... 1B Travis Ishikawa is batting .325 with a home run and nine RBIS in his last 10 games.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Joe Martinez has given up 18 hits and eight runs in his last 14 2/3 innings ... RHP Ronnie Ray has also given up a high number of hits, 17 in 11 2/3 innings, and seven runs over his last two starts ... C Adam Witter is 1-for-17 in his last four games, and batting .133 in his eight games ... INF Anthony Contreras is batting .136 in his last seven games.

NEWS AND NOTES: LHP Jonathan Sanchez made a rehab assignment for San Jose, pitching three scoreless innings with a walk and five strikeouts, then was returned to San Francisco ... LHP Paul Oseguera took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Saturday night ... the Giants held their annual free movie night Saturday, where kids watch movies on the outfield grass.

Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Dropped the final two games at Modesto to get swept. Lost the first two at home against Bakersfield, before winning Thursday to halt their losing streak at eight games. Won the weekend opener at home over San Jose, and lost Saturday to the Giants. Overall: 2-5.

WHO'S HOT: OF Jose Pineda hit a three-run home run Friday night in the eighth inning to lift the Ports to a 6-3 victory ... RHP Vince Mazzaro allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings ... SS Justin Sellers is batting .378 over his last 10 games ... OF Chad Boyd is hitting .321 in his last eight games.

WHO'S NOT: 1B Tommy Everidge is fighting through a 2-for-35 slump over his last nine games ... C Raul Padron is batting .152 in his last nine games ... OF Jose Pineda has two home runs and five RBIs in his last seven games, but only one other hit as he's batting .115 in his last seven games.

NEWS AND NOTES: OF Darryl Lawhorn signed with the A's on Monday, after beginning the season with Fargo-Moorhead in the independent Northern League, and hit three home runs and had four RBIS in his first five games ... DH Mike Piazza played three games in a Major League rehab assignment this week, and hit two home runs for the Ports ... RHP Dan Denham was traded to the Cincinnati organization ... John Brummett was placed on the disabled list ... OF/INF Lloyd Turner was sent from Triple-A Sacramento back to Stockton for the second time this year.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I love the game, and the game has given a lot to me. I think every big leaguer should come down to the Minor Leagues once every few years to get a refresher course of how much they should appreciate being in the Major Leagues." -- DH Mike Piazza, to The Stockton Record, after three rehab games with the Ports.

Visalia Oaks (Arizona Diamondbacks)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Lost the final two games at Bakersfield. Won two of three games at home against San Jose. Won the first two games of a series at home against Bakersfield. Overall: 4-3.

WHO'S HOT: The Oaks are hitting .326 as a team over the last 10 games, and leading the way is SS Pedro Ciriaco, who is 15-for-22 since Monday with two triples and two doubles ... P Hector Ambriz pitched eight shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk, in a 3-0 victory Saturday over Bakersfield ... OF Aaron Cunnigham has a seven-game hitting streak, and hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, raising his average to .356 since his arrival after a trade from the White Sox organization during the Cal League's All-Star break ... 3B Brandon Burgess is batting .394 over his last nine games.

WHO'S NOT: OF Jereme Milons is struggling through a 1-for-23 drought, although that hit is a home run ... RHP Anthony Cupps gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings in his start this week ... RHP Cody Evans has given up three runs in 4 2/3 innings over his last two relief appearances.

NEWS AND NOTES: The Oaks announced a season-high of 2,234 fans at Recreation Park on Friday night ... The 15 runs and 19 hits by Visalia on Friday night were both season highs ... RHP Dan Stange, a California League All-Star, was promoted to Double-A Mobile with 16 saves ... RHP Reid Mahon, who had a league-leading 16 saves at Class A South Bend in the Midwest League, was promoted to take Stange's place.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I am feeling real comfortable at home plate. I am not trying to do too much, just put the ball in play, and fortunately I am doing my thing right now." -- SS Pedro Ciriaco, to The Visalia Times-Delta, through a translator about his recent hot streak.