INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Richmond left fielder Brandon Jones (Braves) connected for two solo home runs off righthander Anastacio Martinez, and drove in a third run with a single, to provide all the offense for Richmond in its 3-0 win against Toledo. It’s been a tough season overall for the 24-year-old Jones, who is batting .261/.345/.408 in 341 at-bats on the year, but he’s clubbed five of his eight home runs on the season in August. In fact, he’s hitting .328/.425/.597 in 67 at-bats for the month—far and away his best monthly performance. Jones told The Toledo Blade:

"(Martinez) was throwing a lot of strikes. I was able to sit on a couple pitches and make good, solid contact."

Prospect Nuggets

Columbus LF Leonard Davis (Nationals) is beginning to figure things out at Triple-A. An Expos’ eighth-round pick in 2004 from Fresno CC, he went 3-for-5 yesterday to push his minor league composite totals to .313/.376/.556 in 387 at-bats—though most of that damage was done at high Class A Potomac. Still, the 24-year-old Davis bats lefthanded and plays both outfield corners as well as second and third base, suggesting he could fill a utility role if he continues to hit . . . Durham LHP David Price’s (Rays) pitch count again hovered in the 80-range (85 to be exact) in his five-inning stint yesterday. He struck out three, walked four and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits . . . Buffalo LHP David Huff (Indians) struck out eight and walked three in 5 2/3 innings, permitting only one run on five hits . . . Louisville RHP Homer Bailey (Reds) hit his second double of the season in a 7-6 loss to Columbus. He went six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking two.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Sacramento right fielder Aaron Cunningham (Athletics) can do no wrong at Triple-A. He was 2-for-3 yesterday, with a home run (three), two runs, two RBIs and a walk in the River Cats’ 7-1win against Tacoma. At 12 1/2 games ahead of Las Vegas, Sacramento has built the largest advantage over any second-place team in any of the PCL’s four divisions. And Cunningham, 22, has been integral to the Cats’ success—they’ve gone 10-1 since his promotion on Aug. 8, and he’s batting .343/.467/.686 in 35 at-bats.

Prospect Nuggets

Memphis 3B David Freese (Cardinals) connected for his 24th home run of the season—though it was in Albuquerque—and struck out twice in going 1-for-4 . . . Portland LHP Wade LeBlanc (Padres) struck out six and walked none in five innings yesterday, though his Beavers were blanked by Tucson 4-0. For his part, LeBlanc allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings . . . RHP Matt Torra (Diamondbacks) pitched Tucson to that victory with seven shutout innings. He struck out six and walked one while allowing just five hits. The 31st overall pick in 2005 out of Massachusetts, Torra has gone 9-9, 3.75 with 88 strikeouts and 28 walks in 146 innings this season between Double-A and Triple-A. For a pitcher recovering from labrum surgery on his shoulder, he’s been quite durable in the past two seasons, racking up 159 innings in 2007 (in the Cal League, no less) and charting a similar course this year.