The Yakima Bears in the Class A Northwest League have officially entered the record books in a dubious fashion.

Yakima suffered a 6-2 loss to Boise on August 21, extending it's minor league-long losing streak to 20 games this season.

It is just the third time in the last 12 seasons that a minor-league team has had a losing streak reach 20 games or greater. Peninsula dropped 22 consecutive in the Class A Carolina League in 1991 and Bakersfield lost 22 straight in the California League in 1996.

The Bears have been outscored 142-65 during their losing streak, have surrendered double-digit runs five times and lost just three one-run games. Their last win came on July 31, a 3-2 victory over Salem-Keizer.

Prior to Yakima's losing streak, the longest streak for futility in the minors this season belonged to Macon of the Class A South Atlantic League. The Braves dropped 14 straight games from May 25-June 7.

Coming to an end
Calgary Cannons second baseman Kevin Hooper had his minor league season-high 31-game hitting streak come to an end in a 7-1 loss at Portland on Aug. 20.

Hooper, who began the streak on July 3 and was hitting only .263 at the time, went 0-for-4 against the Beavers with a lineout to short, a pair of groundouts and a flyout to right. During the streak, he collected 14 multi-hit games and raised his average to .292.

The 25-year-old's hitting streak was the longest in the minors since Casey Blake hit safely in 31 consectutive games between Dunedin of the Class A Florida State League and Double-A Knoxville of the Southern League back in 1998. Hooper's streak was also the seventh longest in the minors since 1987.

Cycling around
For the second time in the last month, there were three cycle's hit during a five-day period. Meaning, that out of the 14 cycles that have been hit this season, six of them have come since July 24.

Daytona's Adam Greenberg became the first player in the Florida State League to hit for the cycle this season when he went 5-for-6 with four RBI in a 17-1 pounding of St. Lucie on August 17.

Greenberg led off the bottom of the first inning with his first homer in seven games with Daytona. He legged out a two-run triple in the second and both singled and scored and doubled home a run in his two at-bats during a 10-run fourth. Greenberg also singled and scored his fifth run of the game in the eighth. A ninth-round pick in this year's draft, Greenberg has seven RBI in his first seven games since a promotion from low Class A Lansing of the Midwest League.

Two nights later, San Jose's Carlos Valderrama recorded the second cycle in the California League this season in an 11-10 loss at Stockton.

Valderrama led off the contest with his 15th home run of the season, reached on a fielder's choice and scored in the third and singled in the fourth. He ripped a double in the fifth and tripled and scored a run in the eighth to give the Giants a 10-3 lead.

Not to be outdone, Andy Green hit for the cycle and drove in four runs as Lancaster rolled to a 15-3 win over High Desert on August 21 in the California League.

The Kentucky native, who finished 4-for-5 with four runs, led off the contest with a double and delivered a sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth. The 25-year-old then legged out his fourth triple of the season in the sixth, laced a base hit in the eighth and belted a three-run homer in the ninth. The last JetHawk player to complete a cycle was Rafael Lopez, who accomplished the feat in four at-bats against Lake Elsinore on August 15, 1999.

Macon's Andy Marte, Princeton's Gabriel Martinez and Salt Lake's Robb Quinlan each accomplished the feat from July 24-July 28.

Minor-league highlights
Augusta (Class A South Atlantic League) first baseman Matt Cooper belted a grand slam in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the GreenJackets a 6-2 triumph over Greensboro on Aug. 15. Cooper was leading the club with four homers and 14 RBI in August.

Batavia (Class A New York-Penn League) catcher G.G. Sato launched a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 14th inning as the Muckdogs slipped past New Jersey, 6-5, on Aug. 18. Sato, a native of Japan who signed with the Phillies in 2000, hit his third homer in 13 games with the club. It was his first game back after a second rehab stint in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. The 24-year-old, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, finished 3-for-7 with an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Binghamton (Double-A Eastern League) shortstop Jose Reyes stole home in the top of the ninth to beat New Haven, 6-5, on Aug. 17. Reyes went 3-for-5, swiped three bases and ripped his 18th triple of the season, tied for the fourth most triples in the minor leagues since 1980.

Birmingham (Double-A Southern League) right-hander Joe Valentine recorded his minor league-leading 34th save in the Barons' 5-3 victory over Mobile on Aug. 19. Valentine, who collected 12 saves in 13 outings between June 28-July 30, pitched a hitless ninth to save his seventh straight game. The 22-year-old has not yielded a hit over his last five outings and has not allowed a run in his last eight frames, dating back to Aug. 5. Overall, the 6-2, 195-pound closer was 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 53 games, striking out 62 and allowing 34 hits in 57 1/3 innings through August 19. Valentine has notched 63 saves during his four-year career and is now two away from tying the Southern League record for the most in a season.

Charlotte (Triple-A International League) turned the fourth triple play in the minors this season during a 6-1 win over the Richmond Braves on Aug. 22. With runners on the corners in the seventh, Jesse Garcia hit into a 5-4-3-2 triple play.

Columbus (Triple-A International League) outfielder Billy McMillon homered twice after the 14th inning to lift the Clippers over Louisville, 10-9, in 17 innings on Aug. 19. McMillon connected on a game-winning two-run homer in the 17th after the Bats scored a run in the top of the inning. After trading runs in the 13th, Louisville took a 7-6 lead in the top of the 15th before McMillon tied the game again with a two-out, solo shot in the bottom half. Once again the Bats took an 8-7 lead with a home run in the 16th before second baseman Andy Phillips came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the frame. McMillon actually tied the score at 5-5 in the seventh when he walked and eventually scored on a single by Phillips.

Danville (rookie level Appalachian League) outfielder Matt Esquivel went 4-for-5 and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Braves routed Princeton, 15-1, on Aug. 22. The 19-year-old Texan doubled home two runs in the first inning and crossed home plate after he led off the fourth with a base hit into left field. Esquivel then belted a three-run homer in the seventh and singled home two runs and scored in the ninth to cap his memorable performance. He has recorded four games of three or more RBI in his first season as a professional.

Fort Myers (Class A Florida State League) third baseman Terry Tiffie drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th inning with a single to give the Miracle a 1-0 victory over the Charlotte Rangers on Aug. 16.

Fort Wayne (Class A Midwest League) third baseman Greg Sain drove home the winning run in the 11th inning and finished 5-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in a dramatic 9-8 victory at Burlington on Aug. 17. Sain singled home teammate first baseman Joe Hastings with two outs in the 11th to help the Wizards win for just the fourth time in 53 games when trailing after eight frames. After recording a pair of singles and a double in his first three at-bats, the 22-year-old Sain drew a walk with one out in the ninth and his team trailing, 8-0. He eventually scored on a base hit by shortstop Jackson Aquino and later capped an eight-run rally with a two-run double in his second at-bat of the frame.

Hickory (Class A South Atlantic League) first baseman Walt Young finished 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs and five RBI in an 11-1 triumph over South Georgia on Aug. 20. Young snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth with his league-leading 21st home run of the season. He laced an RBI single in the seventh and capped a seven-run eighth inning with a three-run shot.

Jacksonville (Double-A Southern League) first baseman Victor Diaz smacked a two-out solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to lead the Suns past Tennessee, 4-3, on Aug. 18. Diaz, who was promoted from low-Class A South Georgia of the South Atlantic League in late July, had four homers in five games August 15-19, his only for home runs with Jacksonville.

Las Vegas (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) third baseman Phil Hiatt set a franchise record for the most home runs in the 51s' 6-0 shutout of Fresno on Aug. 20. Hiatt, who drilled a league-leading 44 homers last season, led off the second inning with his 17th longball, giving him the new franchise total of 61. He surpassed Dave Staton, who hit 60 in 293 career games with Las Vegas between 1991-95.

Michigan (Class A Midwest League) third baseman Trevor Mote singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Battle Cats rallied for a 5-4 triumph over Quad City on Aug. 15. Second baseman Brooks Conrad led off the 10th with a base hit and moved down to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Mote's single to right. Shortstop Ryan Stegall knocked in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, tying the game at 4-4 and forcing extra innings.

Pawtucket (Triple-A International League) second baseman Freddy Sanchez hit a two-run homer in the top of the 15th inning to lead the Red Sox past Rochester, 9-8, on August 19. Sanchez, who went 4-for-8 with a double and two runs, singled home a run and scored in a three-run ninth inning for a 7-2 lead. Right-hander Derek Hasselhoff gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth for Pawtucket, sending the game into extra frames. Third baseman Shane Andrews picked up the win in his first outing as a pitcher in his 13-year career, allowing a run and four hits in two innings of work. This was the second 15-inning game in Frontier Field history. The longest game in the history of the Rochester franchise was a 33-inning, 3-2 loss to Pawtucket. It was played on April 18, 1981 (32 innings) and continued June 23 for one frame.

Quad City (Class A Midwest League) shortstop Seth Davidson and third baseman Michael Sandoval both drove home five runs in the River Bandits' 23-2 thumping of Burlington on August 20. Davidson highlighted a seven-run third inning with a grand slam, the only homer by a Quad City player in the contest, and drew a walk and scored in an eight-run fifth. He also singled home a run in the sixth. Sandoval drew one of the River Bandits' 13 bases on balls and scored in his first at-bat of the third and later laced an RBI single to cap the frame. He then collected a two-run double in both the fifth and sixth innings. Overall, Quad City knocked out 22 hits en route to collecting the most runs in a Midwest League game since Beloit topped Clinton, 23-10, on May 16, 1998.

Savannah (Class A South Atlantic League) outfielder Brad Stockton delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 16th inning to lift the Sand Gnats to a 3-2 victory over Hagerstown on August 17. With the bases loaded and one out, Stockton laced a single past the second baseman to score first baseman Nate Gold. Outfielder Orlando Cruz connected on a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to tie the score at 2-2 for Savannah, which has won its last five extra-inning games.

Stockton (Class A California League) gave up four runs in the top of the eighth inning, but outfielder Steve Smitherman hit a two-run homer to bring the Ports within one and first baseman Mike Calitri hit a game-winning two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to give Stockton a 11-10 victory over San Jose on Aug. 19.

Minor-league leaders
(Through Aug. 22)
AVERAGE (Minimum 350 TPA): Chad Tracy, El Paso, .351; ON BASE PERCENTAGE: Travis Hafner, Oklahoma, .458; SLUGGING PERCENTAGE: Jason Stokes, Kane County, .645; HITS: Joe Thurston, Las Vegas, 182; HOME RUNS: Ivan Cruz, Memphis, 32; RBI: Brad Nelson, High Desert, 108; STOLEN BASES: Wayne Lydon, Columbus (SAL), 83; DOUBLES: Brad Nelson, High Desert 47; TRIPLES: Jose Reyes, Binghamton and Chone Figgins, Salt Lake, 18; RUNS: Lew Ford, Edmonton, 113; WALKS: Graham Koonce, Midland, 123; STRIKEOUTS: Jorge Soto, Visalia, 177; ERRORS: Julian Benavidez, Hagerstown, 42.

BEST ERA (100 IP): Ray Aguilar, Myrtle Beach, 1.70; WORST ERA (100 IP): George Perez, High Desert, 8.12; WINS: Ian Ferguson, Wichita, 17; LOSSES: Yoel Hernandez, Clearwater, 16; SAVES: Joe Valentine, Birmingham, 34; COMPLETE GAMES: Seung Lee, Clearwater, 6; GAMES: Dave Hooten, West Tenn, 61; INNINGS PITCHED: Dan Haren, Potomac, 182.1; STRIKEOUTS: Clint Nageotte, San Bernardino, 197.

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/CLUB (Full Season): Wilmington (Royals), .651 (84-45); Akron (Indians), .649 (85-46); Stockton (Reds), .638 (83-47).

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/CLUB (Short Season): Boise (Cubs), .651 (41-22); Bluefield (Orioles), .635 (40-23); Auburn (Blue Jays), .635 (40-23).

BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE/ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh Pirates (.571); Cleveland Indians (.568); Los Angeles Dodgers (.557).

Top pitching performances
Buffalo (Triple-A International League) right-hander Jaret Wright pitched a two-hit complete game with 12 strikeouts in a 2-1 triumph at Ottawa on Aug. 20. The 26-year-old, who tied his minor league career-high in strikeouts, last struck out 12 with Kinston of the Class A Carolina League back on April 16, 1996.

Clearwater (Class A Florida State League) right-hander Seung Lee threw a three-hit shutout against Tampa, 9-0, on August 20. Lee yielded all singles, issued a walk and struck out five to improve to 2-0 in his first two outings since a promotion from low Class A Lakewood of the South Atlantic League. A native of Korea, he did not allow a run over his first 17 frames in the Florida State League, limiting opponents to six hits and fanning 11 batters. The 23-year-old, who signed with the Phillies in March of 2001 for a $1.2 million bonus, the fifth-largest in club history, recorded the first shutout of his career and his minor league-leading sixth complete game of the season.

Delmarva (Class A South Atlantic League) right-hander Ben Knapp pitched a five-hit shutout at Macon, 4-0, on Aug. 17. Knapp yielded three singles, a pair of doubles and struck out five to post the first shutout of his three-year career. A second-round selection of the Orioles in 1998, the 22-year-old missed all of the 2001 season with a ligament sprain in his elbow. In 24 starts this year, Knapp is 8-10 with a 3.05 ERA.

Lakewood (Class A South Atlantic League) right-hander Layne Dawson threw his second consecutive shutout, 2-0, over Columbus on Aug. 17. Dawson allowed three hits, hit a batter and fanned six to notch the second nine-inning shutout of his two-year career, which includes just 14 starts. After beginning the season in the rotation for just two outings, the Tennessee native has gone 2-0 over his last three starts, limiting opponents to just a run, 10 hits and a walk over 25 frames. He has also fanned 24 batters over that span. Overall, Dawson improved to 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 42 frames over five outings as a starter. He posted a 2-3 record along with five saves in 19 relief appearances earlier this season.

Nashville (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) right-hander Salomon Torres struck out 14 batters, the second-highest total in the league this season, in a one-hit shutout to lead the Sounds to a 4-0 victory over Omaha on Aug. 19 and notch his fourth consecutive win. Torres allowed a second inning hit before retiring the final 23 batters. The start marked the second 10-plus strikeout performance of the season for Torres and his 12th shutout and 28th complete game of his career. Johan Santana of Edmonton fanned a minor league season-high 16 batters April 29 against New Orleans.

San Bernardino (Class A California League) right-hander Kevin Olore struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings and combined on a four-hit shutout as the Stampede downed Modesto, 3-0, on Aug. 18. Olore, originally selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 1999 draft, yielded three hits, walked two and struck out the side in order in the second to extend his personal winning streak to six games. The Waterbury, Conn. native went 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA in seven games July 16-Aug. 18 (44 2/3 IP, 30 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 13 BB, 50 SO).

Tennessee (Double-A Southern League) left-hander Dave Gassner threw eight shutout innings in his Double-A debut as the Smokies blanked Mobile, 6-0 on Aug. 16. Gassner (1-0), who posted a 11-6 record and a 3.44 ERA with Dunedin in the Class A Florida State League before a brief visit to Triple-A earlier in the week, scattered four hits, struck out two and walked a pair, en route to the win. The 23-year-old Gassner was a 24th-round selection by the Blue Jays in the 2001 draft.

Streaking
Brooklyn (Class A New York-Penn League) right-hander Kevin Deaton captured a win in his sixth straight start, the Cyclones' 7-4 victory at Tri-City on Aug. 20. Deaton allowed a run, three hits and struck out eight to improve to a perfect 6-0 with a 2.78 ERA in 13 appearances. The 21-year-old allowed more than one earned run in just one of seven outings July 17-Aug. 20.

Burlington (Class A Midwest League) right-hander Kyle Middleton won his sixth straight start in the Bees' 5-4 victory over Fort Wayne on Aug. 18. Middleton allowed four runs, eight hits and struck out two over eight innings to improve to 13-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 27 appearances, including 15 starts.

Columbia (Class A South Atlantic League) right-hander David Mattox went 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in five games June 2-Aug. 20 to improve to 8-1, 2.96 ERA for the season. He allowed one run and three hits in a 5-1 win at Charleston-WV on August 20 and threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walking two, in a 1-0 win at Lexington on Aug. 15.

Erie (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Jeremy Johnson won his sixth straight decision in the SeaWolves' 7-3 victory at Bowie on Aug. 17. Johnson, who won his last two starts with Lakeland of the Class A Florida State League before his promotion to Erie, yielded a run and five hits with two strikeouts and no walks over 6 2/3 innings, improving to 6-0 with a 3.46 ERA in his last seven starts. The 20-year-old improved to 12-1 between three teams this season. He owns a three-year minor-league record of 24-6, 3.69 ERA in 59 games.

Lancaster (Class A California League) first baseman Corey Myers, the fourth overall selection in the 1999 draft, hit safely in 25 straight games July 22-Aug. 21. Myers, who was batting .422 with 15 RBI in 15 games in the month of August, tied Seattle farmhand Chris Snelling for the longest streak in the California League since 1996, when Mike Rennhack hit safely in 26 consecutive for Stockton.

Louisville (Triple-A International League) right-hander Jose Acevedo won his sixth straight decision in the Bats' 7-1 triumph at Columbus on Aug. 17. Acevedo, who has recorded a win against the Clippers in each of his last three starts, scattered four hits, issued a walk and fanned five batters over seven scoreless innings to improve to 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last eight starts.

Mobile (Double-A Southern League) right-hander Ian Harvey won his fifth consecutive outing with eight scoreless innings in the BayBears' 2-0 triumph over Birmingham on Aug. 18. Harvey yielded four singles and struck out four without allowing a walk to improve to 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in 10 games. A native of Canada, he limited opponents to just five runs -- four earned -- and 27 hits, fanning 20, over his last 31 2/3 innings, good for a 1.14 ERA and a .235 batting average against.

Pulaski (rookie level Appalachian League) second baseman Chris O'Riordian reached base by hit or walk in 23 straight games July 30-Aug. 20, batting .420 with seven stolen bases during the stretch.

Sacramento (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) outfielder Adam Piatt scored a run in his 10th consecutive game as the River Cats fell to Colorado Springs, 10-7, on Aug. 20. Piatt drew a walk in the first inning, doubled home a run in the second and lined an RBI double and scored in the sixth. The 26-year-old hit safely in each of those 10 games (18-36, 7 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB), raising his average to .311.

Trenton (Double-A Eastern League) third baseman Kevin Youkilis reached base by hit or walk in 30 of his first 34 games through Aug. 21, batting .336 with an on-base percentage of .464. Youkilis is batting a combined .305 with 30 doubles, eight homers, 77 RBI and 88 walks against 60 strikeouts for three teams this season.

Wilmington (Class A Carolina League) right-hander Danny Tamayo struck out eight batters over seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 shutout of Salem on August 15 and then allowed a run and six hits, striking out six and walking two, over 6 1/3 innings for his fourth straight win. Tamayo went went 7-0 with a 2.32 ERA in eight games July 15-Aug. 20 (50 1/3 IP, 36 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 13 BB, 38 SO).

Lowlights
The Augusta Greenjackets (Class A South Atlantic League) ranked last in the league in on-base percentage (.298), runs per game (3.67) and steals (65) and were second to last in batting (.233) and slugging (.334), yet was still a game above .500 and in third place in the Southern Division, just five games behind Columbus.

Brevard County (Class A Florida State League) left-hander Rich Rundles lost four straight starts July 23-Aug. 21 (18 1/3 IP, 23 H, 14 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 10 SO). Rundles was sent to the Expos organization last July along with Tomo Ohka in the deal that brought Ugueth Urbina to Boston.

Chattanooga (Double-A Southern League) since being promoted from Class A Stockton on June 6, left-hander John Koronka was just 2-6 with a 4.96 ERA in 13 starts. Koronka, who was 11-0 in 12 appearances in the California League, went 0-5 with a 5.53 ERA in nine games for Chattanooga July 3-Aug. 17 (53 2/3 IP, 58 H, 35 R, 33 ER, 29 BB, 34 SO).

Frederick (Class A Carolina League) set a season-high for runs allowed and tied another season-high by committing six errors in an 18-7 loss to Kinston on Aug. 15. Right-hander Richard Bartlett lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs -- seven earned -- and 10 hits. Bartlett has dropped four consecutive decisions and seven of his last eight.

Huntsville (Double-A Southern League) outfielder Ryan Knox did not drive in a run in 38 consecutive games May 25-Aug. 20, collecting just 21 hits in 114 bats during the streak.

Oklahoma (Triple-A Pacific Coast League) right-hander Chan Ho Park had a disasterous rehab appearance in the RedHawks' 14-4 loss to Tucson on Aug. 18. Park, in the minors because of a blister on his right middle finger, gave up nine runs and nine hits in three innings for the loss. He also walked three batters, struck out three and unleashed a wild pitch. After yielding a pair of runs and three hits over the first three frames, the 29-year-old allowed the first seven batters in the fourth to reach, all of which scored.

Reading (Double-A Eastern League) right-hander Taylor Buchholz was bombed for seven runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Reading on Aug. 18 in his second start since being promoted from high Class A Clearwater of the Florida State League.