CALIFORNIA LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) designated hitter Hank Conger helped shred High Desert (Mariners) 7-3 on Thursday night, delivering three hits and three RBIs and scoring a run. Conger is hitting .298/.325/.487 with 10 home runs and 69 RBIs and has been on a tear in August, having banged out 33 hits and driving in 29 runs.

Prospect Nuggets

Righthander Jordan Walden struck out seven and yielded two runs on four hits in six innings, improving to 5-2, 3.95 for the Quakes … Modesto (Rockies) catcher Michael McKenry was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, and righthander Esmil Rogers had a trio of sevens (innings, strikeouts, hits) and also registered eight groundball outs in a 9-1 win against San Jose (Giants). … Visalia (Diamondbacks) shortstop Pedro Ciraco had three hits in a 4-3 win against Bakersfield. … Lake Elsinore (Padres) third baseman Brian Joynt doubled and homered in a 5-1 win against Inland Empire (Dodgers). … Stockton (Athletics) designated hitter Chris Carter finished with two hits, including his 39th home run and 103rd RBI, in a 6-1 win against Lancaster (Red Sox).

What To Watch For Today

San Jose righthander Kevin Pucetas (10-2, 3.07), recently named the league’s pitcher of the year, starts tonight at Modesto.

CAROLINA LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Kinston (Indians) shortstop Carlos Rivero continued his hot streak Thursday with five more hits, including a pair of doubles and an RBI, in a doubleheader at Winston-Salem. It gave the Indians’ infielder eight hits in 11 at-bats over the past three games.
Despite his efforts going to waste in 3-1 losses to Winston-Salem, the 20-year-old Rivero is finishing well.
He has 35 hits in 95 at-bats this month to go along with 14 runs scored, three home runs, seven doubles and 18 RBIs.

Prospect Nuggets

Kinston designated hitter Nick Weglarz, back from the Beijing Games, was 1-for-4 in the loss. … Winston-Salem’s (White Sox) Matthew  Long (7-11) allowed one run over six innings, striking out six, and Winston-Salem completed a suspended game, winning 3-1 in the final game at Ernie Shore Field’s last hurrah. The Warthogs move into a new park next season after 53 years at Shore Field. … In the only other game in the league, Potomac beat Salem 8-4 thanks to 26-year-old Dee Brown finishing 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and five RBIs.

What To Watch For Today

Winston-Salem’s magic number to reach the postseason is now one with four to play, beginning with a doubleheader tonight at Frederick. Righthander John Ely (9-12, 4.68) starts the opener for the Warthogs.

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Clearwater (Phillies) rightfielder Michael Taylor is a hands-down winner after the former Stanford standout ripped three doubles and scored a run in a 2-1 win against Sarasota. Taylor, who also stole third base in the fifth inning, is hitting .338/.386/.571 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs.

Prospect Nuggets

Palm Beach (Cardinals) welcomed center fielder Colby Rasmus to the lineup, but it was a muddled start for St. Louis’ top prospect as the 22-year-old finished 0-for-3. Rasmus had a lead-in in the Gulf Coast League over the weekend, his first action since early July when he tweaked his left knee on a swing while with Triple-A Memphis. … St. Lucie (Mets) shortstop Ruben Tejada had two hits, a run scored, walk and stolen base in a 2-1 win against Palm Beach. … Jupiter (Marlins) first baseman Logan Morrison was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, including his 38th double, in a 10-2 win against Brevard County. … Daytona (Cubs) catcher Steve Clevenger finished with two hits and two RBIs in a 6-3 win against Vero Beach. … Lakeland’s Cale Iorg hit his 10th home run, a solo shot, in a 6-3 loss to Fort Myers. … Dunedin (Blue Jays) first baseman David Cooper was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs in a 9-1 win against Tampa. … The best pitching duel was Sarasota’s Matthew Kinker striking out 10 over six scoreless innings and Clearwater’s Drew Naylor striking out six over seven frames, allowing one run. They both settled for no-decisions. … Brevard County (Brewers) catcher Jonathan LeCroy was 1-for-3.

What To Watch For Today

Jupiter, a half-game behind Daytona in the North Division, plays the Cubs in a doubleheader at 4:05 p.m. today in Jupiter.