ARKANSAS (TEX) RHP JASON STEPHENS threw a four-hit complete game as the Travelers defeated Wichita, 6-0, in the first game of a best-of-five, semi-final series. Stephens, who was 1-1 with a 1.10 ERA in three games versus the Wranglers in the regular season, yielded a pair of singles through the first six innings. In the seventh, 1B KEN HARVEY collected his second hit and eventually moved to third on an error by 3B JAY HOOD, the only runner to make it past second all game. In the ninth, the 25-year-old recorded a pair of outs before Harvey got his third hit. Stephens then induced OF BRIAN SHACKELFORD into a flyout to notch his first shutout since August 6, 1998 when he pitched for Lake Elsinore of the Class A California League. Overall, the right-hander struck out six and issue a walk.

SOUTH BEND (MID) RHP BELTRAN PEREZ struck out 12 batters over seven-plus innings as the Silver Hawks defeated visiting Michigan, 6-2, in the first game of their best-of-three, semi-final playoff series. Perez yielded two runs, scattered seven hits and issued a walk over 7 2/3 frames for the win. The 19-year-old, who had 157 strikeouts over 160 innings during the regular season, fanned two or more batters in five of the seven-plus innings. In the sixth, a dropped third strike forced the right-hander to record four outs, including three strikeouts. Perez was signed by the Diamondbacks in 1999 as a non-drafted free agent. The second game will be held at Michigan on Wednesday, September 5.

ELSEWHERE IN THE MINOR LEAGUES

KINSTON (CARO) LHP MIKE SPIEGEL tossed six scoreless innings as the host Indians blanked Salem, 6-0, to even their best-of-three semi-final series at one game apiece. The 25-year-old southpaw yielded a pair of hits and fanned four to pick up the win. In 108 2/3 regular-season innings, Spiegel, a native of Sacramento, California, finished with a 7-7 record, a 2.82 ERA and 90 strikeouts, which ranked fourth on the club. 3B TROY CAMERON belted a two-run homer and 1B JEFF BECKER collected a pair of RBI to pace Kinston, which will host the deciding third game on Wednesday.

SALEM-KEIZER (NWST) LHP FRANCISCO LIRIANO struck out a career-high 10 batters as the visiting Volcanoes edged Eugene, 3-2, in 11 innings. The rookie fanned seven of the first nine batters, including the side in the second inning, and retired 17 of the 19 Emeralds he faced, allowing just two hits over six shutout frames to take a no-decision. The 17-year-old southpaw, who is 1-0 in two starts with Salem-Keizer, spent most of this season with the Giants of the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he went 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 62 innings.

TAMPA (FSL) OF MIKE VENTO tripled, homered and collected five RBI as the Yankees defeated visiting Charlotte, 7-1, in the first game of their best-of-three, semi-final playoff series. Vento ripped a two-run triple after a pair of base hits and scored on a groundout in the first inning. A 40th-round pick of the Yankees in 1997 who led the Florida State League in both triples and RBI during the regular season, crushed a three-run blast in the fifth inning to give Tampa a 6-0 lead. RHP SAM MARSONEK allowed a solo home run in the fifth, scattered seven hits and struck out seven batters over eight innings for the win, The second game will be held at Charlotte on Wednesday, September 5.

VANCOUVER (NWST) RHP JAMES HARDEN collected a career-high 12 strikeouts as the host Canadians earned a 3-1 victory over Everett. The 19-year-old rookie struck out the side in the fifth and sixth innings and issued one walk over seven hitless frames to pick up the win. In 74 1/3 innings this season, Harden has a 2-4 record, an ERA of 3.40 and 100 strikeouts, which ties him with RHP GUSTAVO MARTINEZ of the Aquasox for the league lead.

WISCONSIN (MID) RHP CLINT NAGEOTTE fanned 11 batters as the host Timber Rattlers defeated Quad City, 3-1, in the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinal series. The right-hander struck out the side in the second inning and yielded one run with three hits over 7 1/3 frames to pick up the win. During the regular season, the Ohio native, who was 7-4 with an impressive 2.12 ERA in 80 2/3 innings when pitching away from Fox Cities Stadium, compiled an overall record of 11-8, an ERA of 3.13 and a league-leading 187 strikeouts. The second game will take place on Wednesday at Quad City.