Bill James' game score calculation rewards pitchers who work deep into games without allowing many runs or hits while providing extra credit for dominance (strikeouts) and control (few walks). It may not be perfect, but tallying game scores for a number of pitchers can winnow a crowded field in a hurry. Presented here are the top 10 game scores from weekend series, April 20-22, by pitchers who appear in the 2012 Baseball America Prospect Handbook.

It's always good to see California League pitchers make the list, and this time we have three representatives, including a pair of Reds prospects with Bakersfield. Lefty Tony Cingrani, last year's third-rounder from Rice, has been so effective that he leads the Cal League in ERA (0.53), WHIP (0.71) and opponent average (.140). He was similarly effective in last year's Pioneer League . . . With his seven strikeouts, Rangers righty Luke Jackson now has 29 on the season, and he pulled to within one of the minor league lead (Athletics righty A.J. Griffin) . . . With 28 whiffs, D-back righty Trevor Bauer is just two off the minor league lead. He's allowed only one earned run this season and leads the field with four wins . . . Astros lefty Brett Oberholtzer righted the ship after allowing 11 runs in his first two starts for Double-A Corpus Christi.

Other Top Outings By Prospects

D-backs lefty Tyler Skaggs tied a career high with 12 strikeouts for Double-A Mobile, though after issuing six scoreless innings he allowed back-to-back doubles followed by a home run in the seventh. The BayBears lost to Jacksonville 5-1 . . . Author of last weekend's top game score, Mets righty Domingo Tapia continued to miss bats with low Class A Savannah, striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings on Friday. He allowed two runs on six hits while issuing only one walk, bringing his season total to two over 17 2/3 innings . . . Righthander Matt Harvey carried a 7.62 ERA into his Friday start for Buffalo, but after striking out 10 Syracuse Chiefs he now has his first Triple-A win. The 23-year-old allowed three runs on four hits (one homer) in six innings, walking three. Even with the fine showing his strikeout-to-walk ratio remains elevated at 19-to-11 . . . Phillies lefty Austin Wright struck out 10 over five innings for high Class A Clearwater, allowing two runs on four hits.

Top Performance By A Prospect-Eligible Pitcher Outside His Team's Top 30

Control-oriented Cubs lefty and 2009 fourth-rounder Chris Rusin dealt eight strong innings for Triple-A Iowa versus Memphis yesterday, allowing no runs on two hits for a game score of 82 (game log). He struck out four and walked none, and the 25-year-old has issued just four free passes total through four starts this season.

Worst Game Score By A Prospect

Royals righthander Tim Melville spent two years in high Class A and started well enough for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, allowing three runs while striking out eight in nine innings during his first two starts. That momentum screeched to a halt Saturday as the 22-year-old Melville recorded just five outs while allowing eight runs (one homer) in a start at Arkansas (game log). He faced 15 batters and allowed 10 of them to reach base while striking out only one.