Scott Randall recorded his 12th consecutive victory in the Edmonton Trappers' 4-2 triumph at Tacoma on July 27.

Randall yielded two unearned runs and six hits with six strikeouts over eight innings to improve to 12-0, 3.32 ERA between New Britain and the Trappers (Double-A and Triple-A affiliates for the Minnesota Twins). The 26-year-old right-hander went 2-0 with the Rock Cats and is 10-0, 3.25 with the Trappers. Randall is now tied with Kirk Saarloos for the second longest winning streak in the minors this season, just two wins behind leader Joe Roa.

Randall also tied Manny Aybar for the longest winning streak in the Pacific Coast League over the last four years. Aybar won 10 straight decisions for Memphis in 1998. Randall fired a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts for Asheville in the South Atlantic League against Fayetteville in 1997 and his last start of that season, hurled 11 no-hit innings.

Randall was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round of the 1995 draft. He was sent to the Twins four years later in the trade that moved outfielder Chris Latham to the Colorado organization. Randall is currently in his second tour with the Twins.

Offensive minded
Salt Lake Stingers outfielder Robb Quinlan went 5-for-6, becoming the second player in the Pacific Coast League this season to hit for the cycle, and drove in seven runs as the Stingers pounded Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 15-6, July 28.

Quinlan, who went 5-for-5 with two homers and eight RBI on May 12 against Edmonton, had two-run doubles in the first and eighth innings, an RBI triple in the fifth and a two-run homer in the seventh. He singled in the ninth to complete the cycle.

Quinlan became the third player to register seven RBI in a game at Sky Sox Stadium this year. He also is the first Salt Lake player to record a cycle since Scott Stahoviak back in 1998.

Walking along
Midland Rock Hounds first baseman Graham Koonce set a new franchise record for most walks in a single season in the RockHounds' 4-1 victory over El Paso on July 26.

Koonce finished the contest 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, raising his total to a minor league-high 106 in 105 games. The 27-year-old surpassed the old record of 105 set by Dan Rohn in the 1979 season.

Through 109 games this season, Koonce was on pace to draw 137 walks. The Texas League record for walks in a season is 153 set by Eddie Lake of Houston during the 1939 season (161 games). Koonce's 140-games season finishes up on September 1.

Long one
Hudson Valley catcher Shawn Riggans drove in the go-ahead run and scored in the top of the 18th inning to help the Renegades outlast Lowell, 13-9, in the longest game in the minors this year and the longest game in the history of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization.

The Florida native, who finished 2-for-6 with two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored, doubled home second baseman Ryan Riley to snap a 9-9 tie. He crossed home plate later to highlight a four-run frame.

Riley, who drew a leadoff walk in the 18th, gave Hudson Valley a brief lead in the top of the 10th with an RBI triple. Second baseman Gregory Stone, who finished the contest 5-for-9, retied the score in the bottom half of the 10th for the Spinners with an RBI single.

Been awhile
Vancouver right-hander's Chris Dunwell and Jared Burton combined to toss the Class A Northwest league's first no-hitter since 1993, helping the Canadians blank Spokane, 8-0, on July 27.

In his third start of the season, Dunwell, selected in the 15th round by the Athletics in June, issued a pair of walks and struck out two batters over five innings to capture his first victory as a professional.

Burton, who was selected seven rounds prior to Dunwell, came on to make his fifth relief appearance in nine games this year and allowed one walk, striking out six, in four innings to earn his first save and give his team its first no-hitter since joining the league in 2000.

Minor-league highlights
Akron (Double-A Eastern League) shortstop John Peralta drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the 10th inning, to lift the Aeros over the Reading Phillies, 3-2, July 25. Peralta doubled home outfielder Nate Grindell in the bottom of the ninth inning and scored on a single by outfielder Luis Garcia to tie the score at 2-2. In the 10th, Peralta laced a bases-loaded single into center field with one out to seal the win for his club. Three nights later, catcher Victor Martinez singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to help the Aeros edge Reading, 8-7.

Altoona (Double-A Eastern League) outfielder Tony Alvarez hit a pair of home runs for the second time in five games to lead the Curve past Erie, 14-3, on July 28. Alvarez, who had a pair of homers against Harrisburg on July 24, belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning and followed a ninth-inning solo shot by catcher Brad King with his 10th home run of the season.

Binghamton (Double-A Eastern League) first baseman Craig Brazell made his Class AA debut, going 3-for-6 with three homers and five RBI in the Mets' doubleheader split with Norwich on June 29. A fifth-round pick in 1998, Brazell was batting .266 with 16 homers and 82 RBI in 100 games with St. Lucie of the Florida State League.

Charlotte (Class A Florida State League) second baseman Tyler Martin slugged a 10th-inning homer, his fourth hit of the game, to beat Clearwater, 3-2, on July 29. Martin finished the night 4-for-5 and his homer capped a seven-game span in which he went 15-for-25 with four homers and 13 RBI.

Columbus (Class A South Atlantic League) outfielder J.J. Sherrill beat out a squeeze bunt with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and third baseman Chad Peshke followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Red Stixx a 3-1 lead against Savannah on July 25. And after the pen allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning, first baseman Matt Knox homered in the 11th. However, Peshke then moved from third to the mound for the first time this season and allowed four hits, two runs and a walk without retiring a batter to take the loss.

Delmarva (Class A South Atlantic League) did some late-inning hitting in consecutive wins from July 26-29. Outfielder Ryan Lehr hit a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Shorebirds a 1-0 win over Charleston-WV on July 29. First baseman Omar Rogers' two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning beat Charleston-WV, 3-2, on July 28. The night before, outfielder Adam Manley had an eighth-inning, RBI single and Lehr a sacrifice fly to give Delmarva a 5-4 victory against the Alley Cats. On July 26, second baseman Gary Cates, hitless in his first six at-bats, singled in the game winner in the top of the 17th inning to beat Kannapolis, 6-5. Catcher Kevin Webster singled in a run in the ninth to force extra innings.

Durham (Triple-A International League) catcher Pete LaForest had four hits and two RBI, including a game-winning homer in the 10th inning, to help the Bulls rally for a 7-6 victory over Pawtucket on July 25. LaForest singled home a run in the sixth inning and drilled a leadoff shot in the 10th. On July 30, LaForest highlighted a seven-run seventh inning with a pinch-hit, three-run homer to lead the Bulls past Toledo, 8-5. LaForest homered three times in his first six games since joining the club from Orlando.

Edmonton (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) third baseman Casey Blake recorded a career-high seven RBI with a seventh-inning grand slam and an eighth-inning three-run homer in the Trappers' 10-7 victory at Tacoma on July 30. It surpassed his career-high of five RBI.

Iowa (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) third baseman Kevin Orie went 5-for-6 with seven RBI in the Cubs' 17-4 triumph over Colorado Springs on July 25. He singled three times, tripled and homered in becoming the sixth player in the league to record seven RBI this season and the second on his team. Outfielder Jayson Bass drove in seven runs for Iowa on May 30 versus Oklahoma.

Kinston (Class A Carolina League) every hitter in the lineup recorded a hit in the 15-hit attack as the Indians defeated Wilmington, 8-1, July 26. First baseman Rickie Morton singled, doubled, homered and drove in three runs. Lefthander Shane Wallace allowed a run over six innings to record his first win in two starts with the club.

Lancaster (Class A California League) outfielder Jesus Cota went 3-for-7, including a first-inning grand slam, and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning as the JetHawks defeated San Bernardino, 15-14, on July 31. The five hour and 10 minute, 15-inning contest set a new JetHawks record for the longest game played. It was 58 minutes longer than the previous 15-inning affair on September 11, 2000 versus San Bernardino.

Midland (Double-A Texas League) third baseman Josh Hochgesang led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a game-winning home run, his fourth longball in as many games, to lift the RockHounds over Round Rock, 1-0, on July 28. Hochgesang homered again on July 30 against Round Rock, his fifth homer in seven games.

Myrtle Beach (Class A Carolina League) starters did not allow an earned run from July 24-28. Right-hander Roman Colon allowed four hits over seven innings in a 9-0 win against Winston-Salem on July 28. Righthander Adam Wainwright allowed an unearned run and five hits over six innings in a 3-2 victory against the Warthogs on July 27. The night before, righthander Kenny Nelson allowed two hits with nine strikeouts over eight scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory against the same club. He retired 17 straight batters at one stretch. On July 25, right-hander Brett Evert allowed three hits over seven innings in a 6-0 win against Frederick. Lefthander Chris Waters opened the streak when he allowed two hits and an unearned run over eight innings in a 3-1 win against the Keys on July 24. Together, the five allowed two unearned runs and 16 hits over 36 innings.

Omaha (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) first baseman Ken Harvey registered a career-high three home runs and seven RBI to lead the Royals past Iowa, 13-3, July 28. The California native hit a solo blast with two outs in the third inning and crushed a three-run shot in both the fifth and and eighth. Harvey, who had never even hit two homers in a game during his four-year career, now has 18 longballs this season after hitting just 27 in his first three years. The 24-year-old was batting a career-low .265 this season. Harvey did become the first Omaha player to homer three times in a game since current teammate Kit Pellow did it against Tacoma on June 8, 1999.

Princeton (rookie level Appalachian League) first baseman Gabriel Martinez hit for the cycle in the Devil Rays' 12-7 loss to Bristol on July 26. Martinez connected on a two-run homer in the first inning, his third of the season, and singled leading off the fourth. In the sixth, he doubled and completed the feat with an RBI triple in the eighth. Martinez recorded the first cycle in the Appalachian League since Mike Yancy did it for Kingsport back on August 7, 1999. It was also the first in the history of the Princeton franchise, which joined the league in 1988.

San Bernardino (Class A California League) third baseman Justin Leone belted a three-run homer in the first inning and a two-run homer two innings later in a 5-2 victory against San Jose on July 28. Three nights later, Leone recorded a career-high six hits, including two doubles and solo homers in the 13th and 15th innings in the Stampede's 15-14 loss at Lancaster in 15 innings. Leone is the fifth minor leaguer this season to accomplish the feat and the first minor leaguer to homer twice in extra innings.

Minor-league leaders
(Through August 1)
AVERAGE (Minimum 255 TPA): Chad Tracy, El Paso, .365; ON BASE PERCENTAGE: Jeff Duncan, St. Lucie, .469; SLUGGING PERCENTAGE: Jason Stokes, Kane County, .674; HITS: Joe Thurston, Las Vegas, 151; HOME RUNS: Julio Zuleta, Iowa, 27; RBI: Brad Nelson, Beloit, 99; STOLEN BASES: Wayne Lydon, Columbus (SAL), 69; DOUBLES: Brad Nelson, Beloit 38; TRIPLES: Jose Reyes, Binghamton, 17; RUNS: Lew Ford, Edmonton, 91; WALKS: Graham Koonce, Midland, 108; STRIKEOUTS: Jorge Soto, Visalia, 148; ERRORS: Galindo Gomez, Burlington, 40.

BEST ERA (85 IP): Ray Aguilar, Myrtle Beach, 1.39; WORST ERA (85 IP): George Perez, High Desert, 8.46; WINS: Ian Ferguson, Wichita, 15; LOSSES: Yoel Hernandez, Clearwater, 14; SAVES: Juan Padilla, New Britain, 29; COMPLETE GAMES: Rich Fischer, Arkansas, Shane Loux, Toledo and Lee Seung, Lakewood, 5; GAMES: Juan Padilla, New Britain, 53; INNINGS PITCHED: Dan Haren, Potomac, 158.2; STRIKEOUTS: Rich Fischer, Arkansas and Clint Nageotte, San Bernardino, 156.

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/CLUB (Full Season): Akron (Indians), .661 (74-38); Wilmington (Royals), .636 (70-40); Stockton (Reds), .633 (69-40).

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/CLUB (Short Season): Gulf Coast League Pirates (Pirates), .718 (28-11); Great Falls (Dodgers), .705 (31-13); Oneonta (Tigers), .674 (29-14).

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh Pirates (.574); Los Angeles Dodgers (.572); Cleveland Indians (.571).

Top pitching performances
Clearwater (Class A Florida State League) right-hander Taylor Buchholz tossed his fifth career shutout, giving him a league-high four complete games, to lift the Phillies over Dunedin, 4-0, on July 27. The 20-year-old from Pennsylvania yielded five hits, issued a pair of walks and recorded five strikeouts to earn his second complete-game win in as many starts.

Durham (Triple-A International League) right-hander Lance Carter pitched a four-hit shutout, his first in over seven years, in the Bulls' 12-0 triumph over Indianapolis on July 27. Carter struck out a pair without issuing a walk to record the second shutout and second complete game of his eight-year career. The 27-year-old faced the minimum through seven frames, yielding just a single in the first inning in his first shutout since June 6, 1995 when he threw a seven-inning four-hitter for Springfield of the Class A Midwest League.

Jupiter (Class A Florida State League) left-hander Dontrelle Willis pitched eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 win against Daytona on July 27 as he picked up the victory in his first career start in the Florida State League. Willis, who was 10-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 19 starts for Kane County in the Midwest League, yielded just four hits while striking out six and issuing one walk in his first start since being promoted to the Hammerheads on July 22.

Portland (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Justin Wayne pitched his first career shutout in the Sea Dogs' 2-0 victory over Bowie on July 25. Wayne yielded just two hits and struck out six batters without issuing a walk in the first nine-inning complete game of his three-year career and third overall. He retired 16 straight at one point. The Honolulu native, who was originally selected fifth overall by the Expos in 2000, came to the Marlins organization as part of the recent Cliff Floyd deal.

Rancho Cucamonga (Class A California League) right-hander Pedro Liriano threw a one-hit, 9-0 shutout against Visalia on July 30 after carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. The 21-year-old struck out 10 and walked a pair in nine innings to win his fourth consecutive start. Liriano, who fanned five straight batters between the fifth and sixth frames, ranks second in the league with 139 strikeouts in 130 innings through July 31.

San Antonio (Double-A Texas League) right-hander Gustavo Martinez threw seven scoreless innings and carried a no-hit bid into the sixth frame in an 8-3 victory against El Paso on July 29. Martinez yielded a hit, three walks and struck out four to improve to 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 15 appearances.

San Bernardino (Class A California League) right-hander Clint Nageotte spun eight strong innings and recorded 10 or more strikeouts in his third consecutive start, in the Stampede's 7-3 triumph at Lancaster on July 29. The 21-year-old yielded three runs, scattered seven hits and struck out 12 batters without issuing a walk. The 1999 Mariners draftee retired 12 straight batters between the fourth and seventh frames, striking out the side in order in the sixth, and fanned the side in the eighth to run his league-leading strikeout total to 156 in 123 1/3 innings.

Wisconsin (Class A Midwest League) right-hander Juan Done recorded his first professional shutout and collected double-digit strikeouts for his second consecutive game in the Timber Rattlers' 4-0 triumph over Kane County on July 26. The Florida native yielded a pair of hits, issued four walks and struck out 10 and increased his scoreless innings streak to 16.

Streaking
Bristol (rookie level Appalachian League) outfielder Darren Ciraco hit safely in 17 straight games (31-73, 5 HR, 22 RBI) July 12-30, raising his average from .313 to .380. The hitting streak included a 4-for-5, four-RBI performance July 27 in an 11-2 win at Princeton. Ciraco was second in the league in batting with a .380 batting average.

Columbus (Triple-A International League) right-hander Jason Anderson did not allow a run in 13 games July 1-31 (15 2/3 IP, 5 H, 6 BB, 13 SO), going 3-0 with four saves during that span.

Lynchburg (Class A Carolina League) second baseman Josh Bonifay hit safely in 19 straight games (35-79, 10 2B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB) July 11-30, matching Wilmington's Justin Cowan for the longest hitting streak in the league this season.

San Antonio (Double-A Texas League) first baseman Andy Barkett homered in four straight games from July 23-26 at Round Rock (6-15, 11 RBI), then homered July 29 & 30 against El Paso. He had six homers and 18 RBI in 11 games from July 20-30.

San Jose (Class A California League) right-hander Jeff Clark won his eighth consecutive start and increased his streak of scoreless innings to 29 by pitching six scoreless innings for the Giants in a 7-1 triumph at San Bernardino on July 28. The 6-6, 240-pounder yielded a pair of hits and struck out eight batters for the fifth time in his last seven starts en route to his league-leading 12th win. He lowered his ERA to 2.06 -- also best in the league. Clark was then promoted to Shreveport. During his stay, Clark pitched seven or more innings of five shutouts completed by relievers.

Lowlights
Calgary (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) right-hander Jamie Arnold was released by the Cannons on July 18. Arnold was 3-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 16 outings. He pitched a no-hitter against Iowa on May 25, allowing an unearned run and striking out six and issuing one walk in what was his last win of the season. After opening the season 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, Arnold went 0-7 with a 10.56 ERA in his final 12 appearances.

Carolina (Double-A Southern League) committed seven errors, threw five wild pitches, allowed 16 runs and righthander Ricky Cercy broke a 26-year-old Southern League record with four hit batters in an inning during a 16-4 loss to Greenville on July 28. With the temperatures reaching the 100-degree mark and the humidity extremely high as well, Cercy ran into problems in the seventh inning. He committed an error, allowing the first batter of the inning to reach, and hit the second batter. After the third hitter of the inning reached on an error and the fourth hit a sacrifice fly, Cercy plunked three consecutive batters. The four hit batters in one inning broke a Southern League record that was established in 1976. For the game, Cercy did not surrender a hit, allowed seven unearned runs, two walks while striking out two, throwing three wild pitches and hitting four batters in just two innings of work. Cercy committed two errors and shortstop Chris Warren, second baseman Tino Sanchez, first baseman Kevin Burford, catcher J.D. Closser and third baseman Garrett Atkins each had a miscue.

San Jose (Class A California League) outfielder Nick Wilfong went 0-for-36 with 22 strikeouts in 10 games July 11-25 and was 4-for-53 with no RBI in 15 games from July 11-30. During one stretch he went 0-for-21 with 16 strikeouts.

Tennessee (Double-A Southern League) committed a season-high seven errors during a 9-4 loss to Greenville on July 25. Shortstop Michael Rouse had a pair of miscues while third baseman Shawn Fagan, first baseman Matt Logan, third baseman James Deschaine, second baseman Dominic Rich and catcher Paul Chiaffredo each had one error.

Trenton (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Seung Song gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season, in an 8-2 loss to New Haven on July 29, falling to 7-7 with a 4.39 ERA. He was traded to the Expos in the Cliff Floyd deal a day later.