Watson ties Hilligoss for year's longest streak

Brandon Watson extended his hitting streak to 38 games, tying the Minors' longest of the season, as Columbus defeated visiting Syracuse, 3-2, on Monday.

Watson singled on a ground ball to left field in the first inning to tie Mitch Hilligoss of Class A Charleston for the longest streak in the Minor Leagues this season.

The 25-year-old center fielder is 52-for-153 (.340) during his streak, which began May 1 against Rochester. He has hit safely in 46 of his last 47 games.

"It's been interesting," Watson told MiLB.com on Sunday. "If I can get a hit, great, but I'm not going to hang my head if I don't."

On Sunday, Watson's fifth-inning single broke a 70-year club record set by Johnny Rizzo of the Columbus Redbirds. Next up for Watson is a 40-game streak set by Frosty Kennedy of Plainview in 1953.

Jack Lelivelt, who hit in 42 straight games in 1912, holds the longest hitting streak in the International League.

Streaking in the Minors
The longest hitting streaks in Minor League history:
# 69 61 55 50 49 49 46 43 43 43 42 42 40 38 38 38 38 37 37	Player Joe Wilhoit Joe DiMaggio Roman Mejias Otto Pahlman Jack Ness Harry Chozen Johnny Bates Eddie Marshall Howie Bedell Orlando Moreno Jack Lelivelt Herbert Chapman Frosty Kennedy Mitch Hilligoss Brandon Watson Hubert Mason Paul Owens Joey Cora Bobby Trevino	Team (League) Wichita (WL) San Francisco (PCL) Waco (BSL) Danville (III) Oakland (PCL) Mobile (SA) Nashville (SA) Milwaukee (AA) Louisville (AA) Big Spring (LHL) Rochester (IL) Gadsden (SEL) Plainview (WT-NM) Charleston (SAL) Columbus (IL) Binghamton (EL) Orleans (PONY) Las Vegas (PCL) El Paso (TL)	Year 1919 1933 1954 1922 1915 1945 1925 1935 1961 1947 1912 1950 1953 2007 2007 1925 1951 1989 1969

After singling in the first, Watson moved to third on a double by Bernie Castro and scored on Darnell McDonald's groundout. Two batters later, D'Angelo Jimenez hit a two-run homer, his sixth and second in two games, to give the Clippers (29-35) a 3-0 lead.

Watson went hitless in his next three at-bats, but is still hitting .320.

Columbus starter Tim Redding (8-5) allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out four in six innings. Chris Booker fanned one and walked one over the final 1 2/3 frames to notch his 17th save.

The Chiefs (30-33) scored on an RBI single by Ray Olmedo in the third and a homer by Kevin Barker, his sixth, in the sixth.

Syracuse starter Josh Banks (5-4) surrendered three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.