Lee sets Biscuits' hit streak record

Hak-Ju Lee tries not to think about his hot bat, but it's difficult for everyone else not to notice it.

The Rays' No. 1 prospect hit an RBI double in his final at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 21 games as Double-A Montgomery beat Jacksonville, 6-2, on Wednesday.

After going hitless in his first four trips to the plate, Lee doubled home Mark Thomas with one out in the ninth inning. It was the third time in the past five games that the 21-year-old shortstop collected a hit in his final at-bat.

"I didn't care about the hitting streak, if I see a first-pitch fastball, I just hit it," Lee said. "I'm not thinking about it [the streak], I just think about staying hot and working hard."

Lee is batting .333 (32-for-96) during the run and has scored 15 times out of the leadoff spot. He credited hitting coach Ozzie Timmons with helping him with opposite-field and situational hitting.

As the sole owner of the Biscuits' hitting streak record as well as the longest run this season in the Southern League, Lee is happy about what he's accomplished, but maintaining an even keel about it.

"I think about getting better every day and about the hitting streak," he said. "I try to go about my business the same way every day ... work hard every day and not change things because there's a hit streak."

Overall, the South Korean player is batting .264 with 52 runs and is third in the Southern League with 98 hits and 28 stolen bases. Lee has set lofty goals for himself, and not just with the bat.

"Hitting .300 and stealing more bases [are my goals]," Lee said. "Work on my defense, the routine plays, I want zero mistakes on those."

Michael Sheridan homered and drove in three runs while Brad Coon had two RBIs for the Biscuits.

Nick Barnese allowed two unearned runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn his first Double-A win. Adam Liberatore fanned two over two shutout frames en route to his eighth save.