Blaze's Hamilton speeds toward 100
Reds prospect swipes two bags, doubles three times Friday
By Sam Dykstra / Special to MLB.com


Billy Hamilton is second in the California League with a .421 OBP. (Ricky Bassman/MiLB.com)

Billy Hamilton is stealing bases at one of the best clips in Minor League Baseball history, and the shortstop is well aware of that fact. But he's also proving he can use his speed in other ways.

The Reds' top prospect set a career high with three doubles Friday in Class A Advanced Bakersfield's 4-3 win over Modesto. He also added two RBIs, two runs scored and -- of course -- two stolen bases. He now has 96 swipes in 75 games for the Blaze.

With the 3-for-4 performance at the plate, Hamilton extended his hitting streak to a career-long 14 games dating back to June 12, besting his previous high of 13 games established from May 21-June 3 earlier this season. His batting average sits at .330, a full 52 points higher than his .278 mark for Class A Dayton last season.

"I'm definitely feeling very comfortable," he said. "Everything's going pretty well for me. I'm just making solid contact and trying to get on base, and it's working out."

But his skipper thinks it's a little more than just good wood that has Hamilton thriving at the dish.

"He's doing what he's always done," said Bakersfield manager Ken Griffey Sr. "He's been a good hitter for us all year long, but recently, he's just hitting the ball harder. He had three doubles tonight. That shows something about what he can do.

"With the speed he has, he can do anything when he's hitting, and we all knew that coming in."

That being said, all anyone in baseball circles seems to want to discuss is Hamilton's ever-climbing stolen-base total.

Following doubles in the first and third innings Friday, the 21-year-old swiped third base each time. (He was picked off second after his third double in the seventh.) He stands four away from the century mark in that category. As the triple digits loom over him, the Mississippi native won't deny he's thinking about becoming the first California League player with 100 steals since Donell Nixon (144) in 1983. The Minor League record is 145 set by Vince Coleman in the South Atlantic League that same year.

"Of course I'm paying attention," he said. "Everybody's getting behind me, and you've got everybody in the stands talking about it. It's definitely something I'm aware of, and I'm aiming to get it soon."

In fact, he's gunning for No. 100 more or less to just get it over with.

"It'll be nice for sure because like I said, it'll be a good thing not to have the pressure of 100 over me anymore," he added.

Even those around him are preparing for that day.

"It'll be an exciting day for him, and an exciting day for the rest of the team," Griffey said. "Like I've said, he's the catalyst for this team. Everything we do offensively comes from him or through him, so it'll be a big day for everyone."

As for when that day will specifically come, Hamilton said he doesn't have any exact expectations.

"There's no predictions, no predictions," he said. "It'll happen eventually, but I'm not too worried about that right now."

Triple-A roundup: Adams blasts pair
Myers smacks three-run homer; Gwinnett's skid hits 14 games
MiLB.com Staff


Matt Adams has 13 home runs and 36 RBIs for the Redbirds this season. (Memphis Redbirds)

In the Pacific Coast League, No. 8 Cardinals prospect Matt Adams fell a triple short of the cycle, homering twice with five RBIs and three runs scored as Memphis topped Albuquerque, 9-5. No. 6 St. Louis prospect Zack Cox added three hits for the Redbirds and Trent Oeltjen homered and plated two runs for the Isotopes.

Brian Baker fired off six clean innings and Edwin Maysonet drove in both Nashville runs in a 2-0 victory over Round Rock. Johnnie Lowe and Mike McClendon followed with a scoreless inning apiece and Jim Henderson shut the door for his seventh save. Luis Hernandez went 4-for-4 for the Express.

No. 2 Royals prospect Wil Myers went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and David Lough added three hits as Omaha beat New Orleans, 8-3. Anthony Seratelli provided three RBIs for the Storm Chasers. No. 2 Marlins prospect Matt Dominguez led the Zephyrs, going 2-for-3 with a three-run shot of his own.

Rodrigo Lopez scattered three hits and three walks over six innings in Iowa's 7-0 blanking of Oklahoma City. No. 10 Cubs prospect Josh Vitters homered and drove in three runs for the Cubs, while Jimmy Paredes led the RedHawks with a pair of hits, including a triple.

No. 18 Blue Jays prospect Moises Sierra went 2-for-4 with a two-run shot and David Cooper provided another home run in Las Vegas' 4-0 win over Tacoma. Sean O'Sullivan scattered just two hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings to earn the win for the 51s. Brian Sweeney surrendered four runs -- three earned -- over seven innings in the loss for the Rainiers.

Eric Sogard hit a walk-off single to bring home Adam Rosales in the 10th inning as Sacramento edged Salt Lake, 1-0. Travis Banwart hurled seven shutout innings for the River Cats, scattering four hits and a walk and striking out eight. Matt Shoemaker fired eight scoreless frames, allowing six hits and two walks while fanning five for the Bees.

Cole Gillespie busted out for three home runs and eight RBIs -- a grand slam, a three-run homer and a solo shot -- to lead Reno in an 11-3 rout of Fresno. No. 2 Giants prospect Francisco Peguero led the Grizzlies in the loss, going 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and two RBIs.

Brendan Harris went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs and both Andrew Brown and Tommy Field added home runs as Colorado Springs handled Tucson, 9-3. Jimmy Cesario collected two RBIs for the Sky Sox, and No. 4 San Diego prospect Jedd Gyorko went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Padres.

In the International League, Mets' No. 2 prospect Matt Harvey set down the first 14 batters of the game before allowing a two-out single to Paul Janish in the fifth inning as Buffalo routed Louisville, 8-0. Harvey finished with nine strikeouts and allowed two hits over seven innings while Josh Rodriguez was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and finished a triple shy of the cycle for the Bisons. Kris Negron was 1-for-4 in a losing effort for the Bats.

Russ Canzler was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs to help Columbus defeat Norfolk, 9-4. Second baseman Cord Phelps slugged a three-run homer and Jason Donald had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Clippers. Veteran Lew Ford was 4-for-5 with a stolen base, raising his batting average to .347 for the Tides.

Corey Brown slugged his 19th homer of the season and drove in two runs as Syracuse outlasted Durham, 11-7. Jarrett Hoffpauir had three hits and scored three runs while Seth Bynum contributed three RBIs for the Chiefs. Tim Beckham, the Rays' No. 5 prospect, was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and finished a triple shy of the cycle for the Bulls.

Jeff Locke earned his sixth win, fanning six while allowing four hits over six shutout innings as Indianapolis bested Toledo, 4-2. Pirates' No. 3 prospect Starling Marte had two hits and scored a run while Tim Wood allowed a hit over 1 1/3 innings to earn his 11th save for the first-place Indians. Justin Henry tripled and scored once for the Mud Hens.

Tuffy Gosewisch smacked a walk-off double with one out in the 10th to lead first-place Lehigh Valley over Rochester, 6-5. Gosewisch finished with two RBIs and Phillippe Aumont earned his second win with two hitless innings of relief for the IronPigs. Veteran infielder Sean Burroughs was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Red Wings.

Major League veteran Dan Johnson homered, reached base four times and scored three runs as Charlotte defeated Pawtucket, 5-2. Gregory Infante improved to 4-0 after allowing one hit and fanning three over three scoreless innings of relief while Drew Garcia slugged a solo homer. Andy LaRoche had three hits and scored a run for the Red Sox.

Former big leaguer Jack Cust went yard for the second straight game and drove in three runs as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre routed Gwinnett, 11-4. Russell Branyan was 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs while Chris Dickerson scored three runs out of the leadoff spot as the Yankees won their fourth straight game. Jose Constanza had three hits as the Braves dropped their 14th consecutive contest.

Final: Mobile 2, Huntsville 0

Huntsville Box Score
As Mass point out earlier Jimmy Nelson had his best AA start thus far going 5IP allowing 5H, 2BB, 0R, and 1HBP against 5 strike outs throwing 55 of 90 pitches for strikes and posting a 4:3 ratio. Dan Meadows pitched a 1,2,3 6th but ran into trouble in the 7th allowing the 2 run HR which was the difference in the game. He was relieved by Brandon Kintzler who posted 1.2 scoreless. Mitch Stetter and R.J. Seidel combined for a scoreless 9th.

The Stars managed just 5 hits against opposing pitcher Brett Lorin but don't that prototypical power pitcher size fool you, he's pretty much just a finesse pitcher who stymied the Stars offense through 6 innings. No Star batter had a multi-hit game or an XBH though Josh Prince stole his 26th base. Unfortunately both Kentrail Davis and Domnit Bolivar were erased on the base paths trying to steal 2nd.

Huntsville Play By Play
A walk and 2 singles in the first but the Stars came up empty. They wouldn't record another hit until Dan Meadows singled in the 6th.
Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

Lee Haydel walks.
Josh Prince grounds into double play, shortstop Chris Owings to second baseman David Nick to first baseman Yazy Arbelo. Lee Haydel out at 2nd.
Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to left fielder Daniel Kaczrowski.
Hunter Morris singles on a line drive to center fielder Evan Frey. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
Hainley Statia grounds out to first baseman Yazy Arbelo.

This was the game.
Mobile Top of the 7th

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Wladimir Sutil replaces Brett Lorin.
Wladimir Sutil walks.
Evan Frey grounds into a force out, catcher Anderson De La Rosa to shortstop Domnit Bolivar. Wladimir Sutil out at 2nd. Evan Frey to 1st.
Chris Owings homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Evan Frey scores.
Marc Krauss doubles (24) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis.
Pitcher Change: Brandon Kintzler replaces Daniel Meadows, batting 9th.
Matt Davidson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Marc Krauss to 3rd.
David Nick grounds into double play, shortstop Domnit Bolivar to second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Matt Davidson out at 2nd.

After both Davis and Bolivar ran the Stars out of the 8th inning, the only legit scoring opportunity after the 1st came in the 9th.
Huntsville Bottom of the 9th

Pitcher Change: Evan Marshall replaces Matt Gorgen, batting 9th.
Lee Haydel grounds out to first baseman Yazy Arbelo.
Josh Prince singles on a fly ball to right fielder Marc Krauss.
Scooter Gennett flies out to center fielder Evan Frey.
With Hunter Morris batting, Josh Prince steals (26) 2nd base.
Hunter Morris grounds out, pitcher Evan Marshall to first baseman Yazy Arbelo.

Final: DSL Brewers 9, DSL Blue Jays 2

DSL Brewers Box Score
If Eduardo Reyes wasn't 21 still pitching in the DSL I would get excited about him... what a line he put up this afternoon. 6IP, 6H, 1BB, and 1ER against 11SO! Victor Diaz and Melvin Tejada pitched clean frames, Felix Paulino gave up the other run on a walk and a double in the 8th.

The Brewers pounded out 17 hits, this was a jam packed box score. Carlos Belonis (2-5), Juan Ortiz (3-5, 2 doubles), Elvis Rubio (3-5, 2B), Yunior Santana (2-4, BB), Yunior De La Cruz (2-4, 2 doubles), and Carlos Pena (2-3, 2 doubles) all had multiple hit games. Belonis also stole his 13th base and Santana was picked off. The Brewers played clean defense which is just tremendous to see in the DSL, they've been a solid defensive club all year. Somewhat stunning is that Rubio was the only hitter approaching a .300 BA who played today, he's currently at .291, Francisco Castillo is leading the every day players hitting .316 and the next closest batter is Alejandro Mendoza at .254.

DSL Brewers Play By Play
The 6 run 4th was all the pitchers needed.
DSL Brewers Bottom of the 4th

Juan Ortiz doubles (7) on a fly ball to right fielder Juan Tejada.
With Elvis Rubio batting, wild pitch by Jesus Tinoco, Juan Ortiz to 3rd.
Elvis Rubio singles on a ground ball to center fielder Luis Martin. Juan Ortiz scores.
Jose Dicent hit by pitch. Elvis Rubio to 2nd.
Yunior Santana reaches on fielding error by third baseman Gustavo Perinan. Elvis Rubio to 3rd. Jose Dicent to 2nd.
Yunior De La Cruz doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Cesar Barazarte. Elvis Rubio scores. Jose Dicent scores. Yunior Santana to 3rd.
Pitcher Change: Simon Paulino replaces Jesus Tinoco.
Carlos Pena doubles (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Cesar Barazarte. Yunior Santana scores. Yunior De La Cruz scores.
Kevin Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Luis Martin. Carlos Pena scores. Fielding error by center fielder Luis Martin.
Carlos Belonis strikes out swinging.
Alejandro Mendoza strikes out swinging.
Juan Ortiz pops out to shortstop Edwin Fuentes.