Steve Pearce got back into the tick of the IL doubles race and Mike Aviles kept on slugging.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Indianapolis right fielder Steve Pearce (Pirates) connected for four hits, three of them doubles, in four at-bats, while driving in two runs yesterday in a loss at Lehigh Valley. The outburst catapulted him to third in the IL with 16 doubles, and the 25-year-old Pearce now is batting .259/.313/.407 overall. If you followed Pearce last year, you know that’s a far cry from the .320/.366/.557 he hit in Triple-A last year. But hey, it’s early.

Prospect Nuggets

Louisville RHP Homer Bailey (Reds) tossed six, one-run innings, while giving up five hits and four walks. He struck out four. He also connected for a double in two at-bats . . . Rochester RHP Philip Humber (Twins) completed six shutout innings, striking out five and working around three hits and four walks. He improved to 2-5, 5.19 . . . Richmond SS Brent Lillibridge (Braves) may be on the verge of turning things around. He went 3-for-4 yesterday with a double (five), a stolen base (10) and also an error (eight). He’s 24 and is still batting just .214/.281/.278 on the year, however.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Omaha second baseman Mike Aviles’ (Royals) season to remember continued yesterday as he hit two solo home runs as part of a 2-for-4 night. The 27-year-old is batting an eye-opening .338/.369/.634 with 10 home runs, 21 doubles, 42 RBIs, 42 runs scored and just 23 strikeouts in 213 at-bats. He ranks first in the PCL in extra-base hits (37), second in hits (72), doubles and triples (six), and third in RBIs and runs.

Righthander Carlos Rosa went five innings for the Royals, striking out seven and allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.

Prospect Nuggets

Las Vegas scored 23 runs in a rout of Tucson, but the 51s didn’t hit any home runs. 3B Andy LaRoche (Dodgers) was 3-for-7 with four runs and five RBIs. Tucson RHP Juan Gutierrez (Diamondbacks) bore much of the brunt: 2 2/3 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 4 BB, 1 SO . . . Salt Lake RHP Nick Adenhart (Angels) was torched for five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He’s now 0-3, 7.02 with 10-8 K-BB in three May starts for the Bees after being sent down by the Angels.