Bryce as nice: Brentz, Harper roll on

Bryce Brentz of the Greenville Drive and top prospect Bryce Harper of the Hagerstown Suns extended their hitting streaks to 25 and 17 games, respectively, on Friday night.

Brentz, who was selected 36th overall by the Red Sox in last year's Draft, slugged a two-run eighth-inning homer in his final at-bat as the Drive were beaten by the Charleston RiverDogs, 6-2.

The 22-year-old outfielder also walked in four plate appearances, giving him three homers and 11 RBIs in his last five games. His hitting streak and 34-game on-base streak are the longest in the Minor Leagues this season.

Harper, MLB.com's preseason No. 3 prospect, singled in four at-bats in the Suns' 4-3 victory over the Lakewood BlueClaws. It was the sixth time during his streak that last year's top overall pick was held to one hit and it dropped his average to .390, two points behind Brentz for the South Atlantic League lead.

Brentz also leads the Class A circuit with 56 hits, 22 extra-base hits, 99 total bases, 33 RBIs, 38 runs scored and a .692 slugging percentage. Harper ranks second in total bases and slugging and is tied for third with 30 RBIs.

"I think it's pretty good to be a Bryce right now," Brentz said Thursday.. "It's flattering to be compared with Harper and it's great to see we're both doing so well."