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06/16/2007 4:11 PM ET
Watson extends hitting streak to 42 games
Columbus' leadoff man matches IL record set in 1912
By Dan Marinis / Special to MLB.com
Brandon Watson, who finished 2-for-4, has four straight multi-hit games. (Joy R. Absalon/MLB.com)

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• Saturday's box score
• Brandon Watson's player page
• Lelivelt was a hit machine
• Watson gets within one of IL mark

Dust off the record books.

Brandon Watson extended his hitting streak to 42 games, matching a 95-year-old International League record, as Columbus edged host Ottawa, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon.

Watson's one-out double in the fourth inning extended his Minor League season-best streak and tied the IL mark set by Jack Lelivelt in 1912. He scored on an error by third baseman Joey Hammond to give the Clippers a 4-2 lead.

"There's been a lot of players to come through this league, so to be the one to tie this record is great," said Watson. "I'm enjoying every minute of it. It's been a great ride.

"It takes a little bit of luck and a little bit of skill. I'm just fortunate my luck and skill have added up to 42 games so far."

Streaking in the Minors
The longest hitting streaks in Minor League history:
#
 69
61
55
50
49
49
46
43
43
43
42
42
42
40
38
38
38
 Player
 Joe Wilhoit
Joe DiMaggio
Roman Mejias
Otto Pahlman
Jack Ness
Harry Chozen
Johnny Bates
Eddie Marshall
Howie Bedell
Orlando Moreno
Brandon Watson
Jack Lelivelt
Herbert Chapman
Frosty Kennedy
Mitch Hilligoss
Hubert Mason
Paul Owens
 Team (League)
 Wichita (WL)
San Francisco (PCL)
Waco (BSL)
Danville (III)
Oakland (PCL)
Mobile (SA)
Nashville (SA)
Milwaukee (AA)
Louisville (AA)
Big Spring (LHL)
Columbus (IL)
Rochester (IL)
Gadsden (SEL)
Plainview (WT-NM)
Charleston (SAL)
Binghamton (EL)
Orleans (PONY)
 Year
 1919
1933
1954
1922
1915
1945
1925
1935
1961
1947
2007
1912
1950
1953
2007
1925
1951

The 25-year-old center fielder also singled in the sixth for his fourth consecutive multi-hit game. He is batting .365 (62-for-170) with six doubles, a triple, 19 runs scored and 10 RBIs since going hitless against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 30.

"I'm not putting too much pressure on myself, just trying to keep it simple," said Watson. "I pretty much try to wait, let the ball get deep in the zone, go the other way, leg out infield hits -- whatever it takes."

The Clippers snapped a 4-4 tie in the seventh when Brent Abernathy singled, advanced on Juan Brito's groundout and scored on Manny Alexander's base hit.

Alexander went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the fourth for Columbus (31-37). Former Lynx Bernie Castro added two hits and an RBI.

Starter Tim Redding (9-5) got the win after allowing four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over six innings. The former Major Leaguer struck out three and did not walk a batter. Jermaine Van Buren tossed a scoreless seventh, Arnie Munoz hurled a perfect eighth and Chris Booker notched his 19th save with a hitless ninth.

Ottawa reliever Rick Bauer (1-4) took the loss after yielding a run on three hits and a walk over two innings. Starter Eude Brito, who lasted 3 1/3 frames, gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts.

Chris Roberson clubbed a two-run homer in the third for the Lynx (28-35).

Dan Marinis is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.