Billy Buckner and Daniel McCutchen turned in fine pitching performances only to be denied wins by shaky relief, Bryan Anderson cracked three extra-base hits and Francisco Liriano continued on the comeback trail.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

After a brutal April (0-3, 7.94 in six starts), Tucson righthander Billy Buckner (Diamondbacks) has turned in two consecutive solid months, culminating in eight shutout innings yesterday at home against Fresno. He struck out six, walked one, hit a batter, allowed four hits and kept the ball on the ground, inducing 12 groundouts (including three double plays) and six fly outs.

Unfortunately for Buckner, 24, Sidewinders righthanders Brandon Medders and Emiliano Fruto surrendered six runs in the top of the ninth and two more in the 10th, tying the game and then handing Fresno an 8-7 win. Beginning with his start on May 4, Buckner has gone 4-4, 3.21 in 11 starts, striking out 37, walking 24, giving up three home runs and inducing 10 double plays in 70 innings.

Prospect Nuggets

Rehabbing Dodgers Rafael Furcal (1-for-3, double), Nomar Garciaparra (0-for-2, walk) and Andruw Jones (1-for-3, home run) all appeared in the Las Vegas lineup yesterday, but the real star of the game was just-back-from-Japan RF Mitch Jones, who homered twice, doubled and tripled, driving in six runs and collecting 13 total bases in five at-bats. . . . Memphis C Bryan Anderson (Cardinals) went 3-for-4 with two doubles (nine), a triple (two), a walk and a run scored—all while nabbing three of four basestealers. The 21-year-old, lefty-hitting backstop hit .315/.413/.481 in June and has managed a .371/.463/.457 line against southpaws. . . . In his first game back from the DL (concussion), Sacramento CF Travis Buck (Athletics) went 2-for-4 with a double (six) and a run scored. River Cats LHP Dallas Braden (A’s) improved to 3-0, 2.38 with eight, one-run innings in Sacramento’s 5-3 win against Portland. He struck out ten, walked none and allowed five hits, one of them a solo homer to Peter Ciofrone. . . . Salt Lake SS Brandon Wood (Angels) connected for his 13th home run in a 1-for-4 effort that included a walk and a strikeout.

What To Watch For Today

The Rangers signed 31-year-old Japanese RHP Kazuo Fukumori for one year and $1.6 million in an effort to strengthen their bullpen—despite the fact he had never been able to hold the closer’s job in 12 seasons in his native country. Fukumori was Texas’ best reliever in spring training, but quickly found himself in Oklahoma—and then off the 40-man—after allowing four walks and two home runs in four appearances. Now working as a spot starter for the RedHawks, he takes the ball today at New Orleans in making his second U.S. start.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre righthander Daniel McCutchen (Yankees) turned in six, one-run, six-hit innings yesterday against Buffalo, but it was not enough to pick up his second Triple-A win. He’s stalled at 1-6, 3.96 through eight starts. A 13th-round pick from Oklahoma in 2006, McCutchen, 25, struck out five and walked one but did not allow a home run for the second straight start after he had surrendered eight in his first six starts.

The score was knotted at one when McCutchen left the game, but lefty Kei Igawa promptly gave up three runs and the lead upon entering in the seventh. The Yankees rallied with four runs in bottom of the ninth to win 5-4.

Prospect Nuggets

In a slow night for prospects in the IL, we turn to Rochester LHP Francisco Liriano (Twins), who with 155 big league innings is no longer prospect eligible. But he’s noteworthy because he’s still just 24 and because he’s coming back from Tommy John surgery. He pitched seven shutout innings yesterday, striking out nine, in a 2-1 win against Lehigh Valley. . . . Richmond SS Diory Hernandez (Braves) was 2-for-4 with his 13th double of the season. He’s now batting .290/.322/.395 through 238 at-bats.

What To Watch For Today

Buffalo LHP David Huff (Indians) and the Bisons travel to Scranton to face the Yankees. In a league swimming with young lefties (David Purcey, J.A. Happ, Matt Maloney), Huff is one of the IL’s best. The 23-year-old boasts a 29-2 K-BB mark through 26 innings.