The game of baseball has its share of rivalries. The Yankees and the Red Sox. The Giants and the Dodgers. The Cardinals and the Cubs.

You can now add the Iowa Cubs and the Salt Lake Stingers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to that list. It may not be as historic as some of games' greatest matchups, but the bottom line is that these two teams do not like one another.

In a game this past week, 10 players and one manager were ejected after a 35-minute brawl ensued following Cub outfielder Julio Zuleta's charging the mound after being hit by a pitch from Salt Lake's Brendan Donnelly.

This was not just a one-time affair. There is some history between the two teams.

A year ago, the Stingers led the Central Division for most of the season but were eventually overtaken by the Cubs when Iowa swept a four-game series from Salt Lake August 31-September 3 to close out the season and win the division.

On June 3 of this season, Zuleta hit a pair of home runs to lead Iowa in an 11-3 rout of Salt Lake. According to a league source, each of Zuleta's home runs were tagged, and Zuleta apparently watched each of them leave Salt Lake's Franklin Covey Stadium, something that did not please the Stingers.

Also during that game, Salt Lake outfielder Trent Durrington was hit by a pitch after the Cubs had scored eight runs in the sixth inning to blow the game wide open at 10-1. Durrington was drilled after Iowa players felt he had tried to pad a 13-3 lead two days earlier by swinging at a 3-0 pitch late in the game. Salt Lake was agitated that Durrington was hit, and its players were heard saying the next day during batting practice that if Durrington was fair game, then so was Zuleta.

During the game on June 4, Zuleta hit home runs in the third and eighth innings as Iowa was rolling to a 17-1 win. According to the source, Zuleta ran hard around the basepaths during these homers after his teammates said that he "stared" a little too long the night before.

In the top of the ninth inning, with the Cubs leading by a 15-1 count, outfielder Ivanon Coffie hit a two-run homer and watched as the ball sailed over the fence.

Three batters later, Zuleta was drilled in the back by Donnelly and charged the mound, emptying both benches. After Zuleta was contained by teammates and was led back to his dugout by 6-5, 240-pound first baseman Hee Seop Choi, Zuleta escaped and came back out onto the field, tackling Donnelly again and re-inciting the brawl.

Only this time, more players and coaches would get involved. According to the source, Zuleta was being restrained by players when Donnelly came around the side and punched Zuleta in the face.

"There was an unbelievable amount of cheap shots by their guys," Iowa manager Bruce Kimm told the Des Moines Register after returning home on Wednesday. "There was one time when a bunch of guys had hold of Zuleta and he couldn't move, then I saw somebody run around the side of the pile and sucker-punched (Zuleta), then take off running."

The source then claims that Kimm ran after Donnelly after seeing Donnelly punch Zuleta. Stingers pitcher Elvin Nina, who had started the previous night's game, came after Kimm.

Cubs third baseman Kevin Orie went after Nina while Salt Lake pitcher Bart Miadich tackled Kimm from behind, setting off numerous small scuffles, including one between Stingers pitching coach Mike Butcher and Iowa outfielder Jayson Bass. By this time, members of the local police department were forced to come onto the field and break up the skirmish.

Kimm, Zuleta, Bass, Orie, Ben Ford and Carlos Zambrano were ejected for Iowa. Donnelly, Scot Shields, Nina, Durrington and Jose Molina each got the gate for Salt Lake.

The Stingers currently lead the division by 2½ games over the Cubs. The two teams face each other 12 more times this season, starting up again back in Salt Lake on June 22-25.

Brilliant
Double-A Round Rock right-hander Kirk Saarloos spun his first career shutout as the Express blanked Shreveport, 11-0, in the first game of a doubleheader on June 1.

Saarloos, who scattered six hits, two walks and struck out five batters, set down seven of the first nine batters he faced and seven of the final eight. He induced 14 groundouts and no flyouts.

In his next start five nights later, Saarloos allowed only two unearned runs over 7 1/3 innings for his ninth straight win as Round Rock defeated Arkansas, 6-2. The 23-year-old surrendered just two hits while striking out seven and walking a pair.

Over his last nine starts, Saarloos went 8-0 and allowed only four runs -- one earned -- in 60 1/3 innings of work. Since May 10, Saarloss has gone 41 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, easily the best such streak in the minors this season. The Texas League does not keep records on consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Saarloos, 9-1 with a 1.43 ERA in 12 starts this season, headlines six Express players heading to the Texas League All-Star Game.

Going, going, gone
Charlotte Knights third baseman Joe Crede hit six home runs in six games May 27-June 1 en route to the Triple-A International League's Player of the Week honor.

The 24-year-old, who was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 1996 draft, entered this season with 71 home runs in 642 career games in the minor leagues.

"I'm just seeing the ball real well right now," Crede said of his hot streak this past Monday. "You've just go out there and go through the same routine that you've been using all season long. It just kind of happens.

"I think it's all in a groove that a hitter finds. Something just locks in."

Call it a groove, "locked in" or call it whatever you want. The fact of the matter remains that Crede reached double-figures in home runs for the fourth time in his career and is a homer shy of being halfway to his career high.

Crede had 20 home runs for Class A Winston-Salem back in 1998, including 11 through June 6 of that season. He had a career-high 21 for Class AA Birmingham in 2000 and belted 17 for the Knights a year ago.

Good starts
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Class A Carolina League received great starting pitching in a three-game stretch June 2-4.

Right-hander Roman Colon tossed the second nine-inning complete game of his career to help the Pelicans post a 3-1 victory over Frederick on June 2. Colon yielded a run, seven hits and struck out six batters without issuing a walk.

"He commands his fastball extremely well," said Pelicans pitching coach Bruce Dal Canton of Colon. "He throws a two-seam and a four-seam fastball and he knows how to use each of them. He mixes all of his pitches in very well. He knows exactly what he wants to do. He has an idea how to pitch, and that's the most impressive part to me."

The 22-year-old Colon retired the side in order in the fourth inning and set down the final 14 batters he faced in his longest outing of the season.

Colon did not make his first start of the season until April 14 after being held back for extended spring training with some shoulder problems. Along with a fastball that ranges between 89-91 mph, he throws a slider, a changeup and a curveball but had not been throwing his curve because of his shoulder.

Colon improved to 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 10 starts, with 42 strikeouts and just nine walks over 64 1/3 innings.

The next night, right-hander Daniel Curtis tossed seven shutout innings and struck out 11 batters for his sixth win in as many starts in the Pelicans' 4-0 victory over Potomac.

The 6-3, 215-pound right-hander, who fanned the side in the first inning, scattered five hits and three walks to raise his record to 7-3 with a 1.94 ERA on the season.

"He's probably the most reliable pitcher I've had from day one," said Dal Canton.

Right-hander Adam Wainwright completed the trifecta of terrific starts when he threw a season-high eight innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters to lead the Pelicans past Potomac, 8-3, on June 4.

The 20-year-old Wainwright, who fanned the side in order in the second inning, yielded one run and six hits to earn his first win in five home starts and raise his overall record to 3-1. Wainwright, a first-round selection by the Braves in the 2000 draft, is 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five starts since May 14.

Uncomfortable working environment
Even though the Toronto Blue Jays fired manager Buck Martinez and first base coach Garth Iorg this week, the organization still has the sons of those two former big leaguers in the farm system.

Issac Irog is a third baseman for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and Casey Martinez is a catcher for the Class A Charleston-WV Alley Cats.

This is the second time in the last eight months that an organization released a manager and a coach, yet their sons remained in the farm system.

While Jimy Williams (manager) and Joe Kerrigan (pitching coach) were with Boston Red Sox, sons Brady and Joe Jr., respectively, were in the minor leagues.

Jimy Williams was replaced by Kerrigan as the Red Sox manager last August, and Kerrigan was dismissed on March 5, 2002. Both Brady and Joe Jr. remained in the organization, but not for long.

Brady was traded to the Minnesota Twins on March 24 for outfielder Brian McMillan. Two days later, Joe Kerrigan Jr. was given his outright release.

It's worth nothing that Isaac Iorg had a .224 batting average with a homer and nine RBI in 18 games with Tennessee. Casey Martinez hit .290 with no homers an four RBI in a back-up role for Charleston-WV.

The best and the worst in May
Best Record: Lynchburg (Class A Carolina League) 25-6; .806. Worst Record: Erie (Class AA-Eastern League) 5-23; .179.

Best Batting Average: Aaron Guiel, Omaha (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) .432; 35-for-81.

Worst Batting Average: Nelson Castro, Fresno/Shreveport (Triple-A Pacific Coast League/Double-A Texas League) .127; 9-for-71.

Most Home Runs: Jason Hart, Oklahoma (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) 11.

Most RBI: Brad Nelson, Beloit (Class A Midwest League) 40.

Best ERA: Kirk Saarloos, Round Rock (Double-A Texas League) 0.26.

Minor-league highlights
Akron (Double-A Eastern League) third baseman Corey Erickson belted three home runs for the first time as a professional and collected a career-high seven RBI in the Aeros' 15-11 victory at Trenton on May 30. In 133 games for the Aeros a season ago, Erickson's single-game RBI high was four.

Binghamton (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Aaron Heilman struck out a career-high 12 batters over seven scoreless innings and first baseman Aaron McNeal went 4-for-4 with a career-high three home runs and five RBI in the Mets' 10-2 triumph over Harrisburg on June 2. Heilman retired 18 of the first 19 batters over six hitless frames, including 16 consecutively, before yielding a leadoff single in the seventh. The 23-year-old, who was the 18th overall selection by the Mets in 2001, improved to 2-1 with a 3.36 ERA and has fanned 61 hitters in 61 2/3 innings of work this season. McNeal homered in three consecutive at-bats, drilling a two-run shot in the second inning, a two-run homer with one out in the third and a solo blast in the fifth for his seventh career multi-homer game and first this season.

Edmonton (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) first baseman Todd Sears went 5-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored and outfielder Mike Ryan homered and tied a career-high with six RBI in the Trappers' 21-5 pounding of Calgary on June 1. Sears, who also walked, homered in the second and sixth innings for his fourth career multi-homer game. He had a pair of hits during an eight-run sixth inning.

El Paso (Double-A Texas League) second baseman Matt Kata became the first player this season to hit four doubles in a game in the Diablos' 18-17 triumph over Tulsa on June 1.

Iowa (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) outfielder Jayson Bass connected on a pair of home runs and recorded a career-high seven RBI in the Cubs' 11-1 triumph over Oklahoma on May 30. The 27-year-old, who entered the contest with just nine RBI in his previous 29 games, surpassed his previous high of six, set back on April 23 versus Sacramento.

Mobile (Double-A Southern League) left-hander Oliver Perez became the first minor leaguer this season to record 100 strikeouts. The lanky lefty struck out a career-high 12 batters over seven innings to help the Baybears edge Huntsville, 1-0, on May 31. In his next outing, on June 6, Perez fanned nine but did not figure in decision against Huntsville. Perez recorded 66 strikeouts with Class A Lake Elsinore of the California League before being promoted to the BayBears on May 20, where he has fanned 34 in 23 innings of work. The Padres signed Perez from a team in Mexico with which they are affiliated. He is just 20 years old.

Portland (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) coughed up a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but designated hitter Xavier Nady belted his first-ever Triple-A home run to give the Beavers an 8-6 win over Tacoma on June 3. Nady, who had undergone off-season elbow surgery, started the season in the Class A California League, where he was the league's MVP in 2001. He went 8-for-32 in his first 11 games with Portland, but that was his only home run.

San Bernardino (Class A California League) third baseman Justin Leone and first baseman John Castellano each had career nights with six RBI and six hits, respectively, to lead the Stampede past Lancaster, 16-7, on June 1. Castellano's half-dozen hits marked the first six-hit performance by a California Leaguer since San Bernardino's Willie Bloomquist accomplished the feat back on April 30, 2000 in a 19-3 trouncing of Lake Elsinore. The Stampede recorded 28 hits in the game on June 1, the highest total by any team in the minors this season.

San Jose (Class A California League) outfielder Nick Wilfong connected on a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Giants edge Modesto, 6-5, on June 5. Wilfong, who hit just .170 with four RBI in the month of May, broke out of a 3-for-29 slump (.103) with the 2-for-4 night.

St. Lucia (Class A Florida State League) outfielder Ron Acuna knocked home the go-ahead runs in the top of the 10th inning to lead the Mets over Charlotte, 9-6, on June 5. Acuna snapped a 6-6 tie with a two-run single, stole second base and eventually scored on a wild pitch to highlight a three-run top of the 10th inning.

West Tenn (Double-A Southern League) second baseman Tony Schrager belted three home runs for the second time in his career and collected six RBI in the Diamond Jaxx's 9-8 victory win at Jacksonville on June 1. Schrager, who had a grand slam, last hit three home runs for Class A Lansing in the Midwest League on June 5, 1999.

Minor-league leaders
(Through June 6)

AVERAGE (Minimum 135 TPA): Chad Tracy, El Paso, .402; ON BASE PERCENTAGE: Mike Campo, Rancho Cucamonga, .481; SLUGGING PERCENTAGE: Brad Hawpe, Salem .734; HITS: Chad Tracy, El Paso, 92; HOME RUNS: Josh Phelps, Syracuse, 18; RBI: Simon Pond, Dunedin and Brad Nelson, Beloit, 59; STOLEN BASES: Bernabel Castro, Mobile, 36; DOUBLES: Jeff Mathis, Cedar Rapids and Chad Mottola, Syracuse, 24; TRIPLES: Donzell McDonald, Omaha, 9; RUNS: Dominic Rich, Dunedin, 56; WALKS: Jack Cust, Colorado Springs and Graham Koonce, Midland, 51; STRIKEOUTS: Neil Jenkins, Lakeland, 87; ERRORS: Luis Montanez, Daytona and Luis Maza, Fort Myers, 24.

BEST ERA (45 IP): Mickey Callaway, Salt Lake, 1.37; WORST ERA (45 IP): Justin Gordon, High Desert, 9.45; WINS: John Koronka, Stockton, 11; LOSSES: Several tied with 9; SAVES: Dan Carrasco, Lynchburg, 19; COMPLETE GAMES: Several tied with 3; GAMES: Brian Bowles, Syracuse, 32; INNINGS PITCHED: Taylor Buchholz, Clearwater, 90.0; STRIKEOUTS: Oliver Perez, Mobile, 100.

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/CLUB: Lynchburg (Pirates), .712 (42-17); Stockton (Reds), .705 (43-18); Akron (Indians), .678 (40-19); Wilmington (Royals), .678 (40-19).

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/ORGANIZATION: Houston Astros (.580); Pittsburgh Pirates (.580); Cleveland Indians (.573).

Top pitching performances
Bakersfield (Class A California League) left-hander Mark Malaska tossed his first career shutout to help the Blaze down High Desert, 6-0, on May 30. The 24-year-old southpaw, who retired 13 of the first 15 batters he faced, scattered three hits and struck out eight batters to earn his fourth win in as many starts.

Durham (Triple-A International League) right-hander Luis De Los Santos pitched his first shutout in six years to help the Bulls defeat Ottawa, 9-0, on June 3. Des Los Santos scattered five hits, struck out six batters and issued a pair of walks to improve to 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA over his last three starts.

Norfolk (Triple-A International League) left-hander Mike Bacsik recorded his third career shutout in the Tides' 10-0 triumph over Rochester on June 4. Bacsik scattered six hits, five singles, and two walks over nine innings to win his third straight decision. The southpaw, who retired 15 of the final 18 batters he faced, also struck out three. Over his last five outings, the Texas native improved to 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA, 25 strikeouts and five walks in 32 1/3 innings. It was the first nine-inning complete game this season for Norfolk.

South Bend (Class A Midwest League) right-hander Jon Castellanos pitched a two-hitter in a 3-0 shutout at Wisconsin on June 3, striking out two and walking two. He had not gone longer than six innings in any of his previous 11 appearances this season.

Streaking
Bakersfield (Class A California League) right-hander Evan Rust tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his 11th consecutive save in the Blaze's 8-7 triumph over Visalia on June 4. He yielded two hits and struck out one of the five batters he faced to earn his league-leading 18th save, second-best in the minors. Rust had a 1.39 ERA with 14 strikeouts during his streak.

Fort Myers (Class A Florida State League) outfielder Josh Rabe reached base safely by hit or walk in 25 consecutive games May 7-June 5 (40-100, 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB).

Michigan (Class A Midwest League) right-hander Anthony Pluta went 4-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five starts May 13-June 5 (26 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 15 BB, 24 SO). The fireballing Pluta, who is in his second season at the low Class A level and was ranked second in the league with 33 walks this season, had lost five of his first six decisions to open the season.

Reading (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Ryan Madson won his fifth straight start in the Phillies' 5-3 victory at Trenton. The 21-year-old, in his first season of Double-A ball, retired 21 of 24 batters without issuing a walk through seven innings, including 10 in a row between the third and sixth frames.

Salem (Class A Carolina League) right-hander Justin Huisman extended his string of not allowing an earned run to 29 consecutive games and 36 innings through June 5 (24 H, 2 R, 9 BB, 20 SO). He had three wins and saved 16 games and was ranked second for the minors' longest streak this season of not yielding an earned run.

Sarasota (Class A Florida State League) right-hander Brad Baker went 6-0 with a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts April 15-June 5 (49 1/3 IP, 40 H, 18 R, 16 ER, 20 BB, 54 SO). Last season with Sarasota, Baker won just seven games in 24 outings for the entire year and had just three wins after the month of May.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A International League) right-hander Joe Roa yielded a run and scattered six hits over seven innings to win his eighth straight decision as the Barons defeated Charlotte, 7-1, on June 1. During his eight-game winning streak April 8-June 1, Roa allowed just 18 runs in 66 innings of work.

South Georgia (Class A South Atlantic League) third baseman Victor Diaz hit safely in 18 straight games (27-68, 5 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 4 SB) May 20-June 5, raising his average from .329 to .350 and increasing his hit total to a league-best 77.

Stockton (Class A California League) left-hander John Koronka won his minor-league leading 11th contest in the Ports' 8-4 victory over Bakersfield on June 3. Koronka had posted a 1.12 ERA with a mark of 5-0 over his last six starts and had 69 strikeouts over 73 1/3 innings for the season. Two Stockton pitchers own the league record for consecutive wins, with 16 apiece. Charlie Beamon established the mark in 1955 and Alvin Spearman tied it a year later. Spearman was 52-16 over parts of three seasons with the Stockton club. Koronka sat one win short of San Jose's Fred Newman, who won 12 straight to start the 1962 campaign. Koronka would not get a chance to tie that mark, however, as the Reds promoted the southpaw to Double-A Chattanooga before he could make his next start.

Tampa (Class A Florida State League) right-hander Jay Arnold went 7-0 with a 2.47 ERA in 12 games April 23-June 4 (73 IP, 57 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 21 BB, 75 SO), improving his career record to 14-2 over two seasons.

Trenton (Double-A Eastern League) shortstop Freddy Sanchez hit safely in 19 straight games, going 29-for-81 with four doubles, a homer and nine RBI May 15-June 5. Sanchez's season-long hitting streak raised his average from .299 to .320, tops in the organization.

Lowlights
Asheville (Class A South Atlantic League) right-hander Ryan Speier retired just one batter and allowed six runs on four hits and two walks in a no-decision at Columbus on June 3, a 12-3 Tourist loss. Speier had allowed just three runs over his last 19 appearances.

Charlotte (Triple-A International League) right-hander Geronimo Mendoza, who was tied for first in minors with nine losses, went 0-9 with a 9.20 ERA in 10 games April 11-June 3 (46 IP, 63 H, 51 R, 47 ER, 24 BB, 31 SO).

Kinston (Class A Carolina League) right-hander Jason Davis went 0-5 with a 5.16 ERA in 11 starts April 16-June 3 (59 1/3 IP, 74 H, 50 R, 34 ER, 24 BB, 46 SO). Davis tossed six shutout innings to beat Winston-Salem on Opening Night, but he failed to win any of his next 11 starts. Davis ranked third in the low Class A South Atlantic League with 14 wins last season and won seven of his final eight decisions to close out the year.