WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Francisco Mejia stepped out of the clubhouse and into the dugout with little fanfare. He did his usual turns in the batting cage, and the 5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher looked like just another 20-year-old in the minors.Yet Mejia is something of a modern-day Joe DiMaggio, plying his trade for the Lynchburg Hillcats of the high Class A Carolina League. The Cleveland Indians prospect now has a 49-game hitting streak thats tied for the sixth-longest in pro baseball history and the best in 62 years.Mejia has gotten a hit in every game he has played since May 25, a string that dates to his time with the Lake County Captains of the low Class A Midwest League. He extended it Friday night with a sixth-inning single against Winston-Salem -- that tied him for the longest hitting streak by a catcher, set by Harry Chozen in the Southern Association in 1954.Neither Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski nor hitting coach Larry Day has had a single conversation with him about the accomplishment, which stands out because of Mejias age, his role as a catcher and the distractions he has faced along the way.As one of Clevelands top 10 prospects, he took part in the MLB All-Star Futures Game in San Diego and would have gone to the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline last month had the deal for Jonathan Lucroy occurred.It has not been easy for him, said Carter Hawkins, the Indians director of player development. This has not been put on a silver platter. Hes moved levels, hes traveled around to different All-Star Games, hes been a name that came up in trade rumors. There have certainly been a lot of different reasons or potential excuses to end this streak, but I think just focusing on his work and focusing on what he can do and what he can control has really helped him out.In the meantime, Mejia has moved closer to the record 69-game hit streak by Joe Wilhoit of the Western League in 1919.DiMaggio owns the streak that most fans know about, the major league mark of 56 games in 1941 for the New York Yankees. Many fans dont realize Joe D also owns the second-longest hitting streak ever in pro ball -- as a teenager in 1933, DiMaggio hit in 61 straight for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.Mejia, who signed out of the Dominican Republic at 16, reminds Budzinski of a young switch-hitting Vladimir Guerrero without the power because of his ability to hit the ball so effectively out of the strike zone. An aggressive hitter, he doesnt walk much.Its no coincidence that after the organization decided to make him repeat a year in the Midwest League, like a student who gets held back a grade, Mejia changed everything from his body language to his preparation.This year I got a better approach, better routines, Mejia said. I got routines this year.Last season, he said, it was simply come to the stadium, lets go play. This year everything is different.It has paid off. Mejia improved his batting average from .243 in 2015 to .348 this season, which Day credits to an improved all-field approach, especially left-handed. Before, the right-handed-throwing Mejia would pull from that side of the plate and cut off half the field.Now hes hitting the ball everywhere, early and often.Its his gifted hand-eye coordination ability to put the barrel of the bat on the ball, Budzinski said Thursday before a game at the Potomac Nationals. The guys that are a little more aggressive and can hit the ball out of the zone hard, which he can do, thats where you tend to see guys that can extend those hit streaks longer.The streak is even more remarkable because of Mejias catching responsibilities.When Mejia arrives at the park, he first works with pitching coach Rigo Beltran and the days starter to prepare, then focuses on his defense and finally works on his hitting. Its working out pretty well.Youre dealing with not only calling a game from a mental standpoint, working with a pitching staff, blocking balls, youve got all the gear on in the hot weather, foul tips off of you, youve got to make 100-some throws a night, Budzinski said. It is impressive to see a guy that can kind of maintain that through the course of a season and stay strong physically, mentally, emotionally.Handling the mental and emotional pressure of the hitting streak seems to be the least of Mejias concerns. He acknowledges its fun to keep it going and hear encouragement from his teammates, but he doesnt talk to fellow players about his place in history.That maturity and focus goes a long way as far as earning respect from the staff.He doesnt make it about him, Day said. These games are not being played to see if he will or will not extend his hitting streak and he doesnt act that way. He plays to win. He hits to win. He prepares to win.The Hillcats are winning plenty as Mejia has been hitting. But they almost lost him when the Indians tried to acquire Lucroy, an All-Star catcher.As much as playing -- and getting a hit -- in the Futures Game gave him confidence and motivation, almost being traded made Mejia upset. Of course, he understood the situation like a grizzled veteran.A couple times I feel sad at that trade because I signed with this organization, Mejia said. I like (it) here. But Cleveland wants a World Series, so they have to do it.Lucroy vetoed the trade and went to Texas instead, leaving Cleveland with one of its top prospects still in the organization. Mejia, of course, still has a long way to go before hes ready for the show.Hes still in A-Ball, hes still extremely young, hes still learning a lot of things about the baseball game, Hawkins said. If he continues to improve, if he continues to have the consistent approach at the plate, if he continues to improve behind the dish and manage a pitching staff, we absolutely see him as a guy that can help us out in the major leagues down the line. Kenny Clark Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Cameron Erving Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. 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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a touchdown pass to Eric Decker and the New York Jets defense stifled Eli Manning and the New York Giants starters in a 21-20 preseason loss Saturday night.Both teams first-string offenses did very little in the last regular-season tuneup for most starters, but Fitzpatrick connected with Decker for a 22-yard score three plays after Darrelle Revis intercepted Manning on a pass intended for Odell Beckham Jr. in Giants territory in the second quarter.Fitzpatrick finished 9 of 16 for 76 yards with the score and lost a fumble in the red zone before being replaced by Geno Smith just before halftime.Manning was 10 of 15 for 65 yards and an interception while playing one series into the third quarter. The Giants starters managed just 61 total yards against Todd Bowles defense.The Giants (1-2) didnt get past the 50-yard line until a facemask penalty on Brandon Bostick on a punt return put them at the Jets 47 with 2:36 left in the third quarter.Backup Ryan Nassib took advantage two plays later, connecting with Tavarres King on a 27-yard touchdown that cut the Jets lead to 10-7. It was the Giants first score since late in the first quarter of their preseason opener.Backup defensive end Kerry Wynn returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a pass from Bryce Petty that was tipped by J.T. Thomas III.Jets second-rounder Christian Hackenberg began trending on Twitter after he went 4 of 6 for 79 yards on his first NFL drive, capping it with a 10-yard TD throw to Robby Anderson. He was also intercepted by Andrew Adams with 2:34 left, leading to Kings go-ahead touchdown catch for the Giants. Hackenberg finished 6 of 16 for 105 yards for the Jets (1-2).Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz played for the first time since 2014, catching a pass for 4 yards. Cruz was limited to six games two years ago because of a knee injury and then missed all of last season with a calf injury. The 29-year-old Cruz was sidelined the first two preseason games this summer with a groin injury.Jets running back Matt Forte (hamstring) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (leg) made their preseason debuts. Forte, signed in March after eight seasons in Chicago, had 28 yards on 10 carries and addedd two catches for 9 yards.ddddddddddddSITTING OUTJets wide receiver Brandon Marshall was a surprise scratch with what Bowles said after the game was sore hips. The coach said the decision was made Friday and he didnt seem too concerned about Marshalls status, saying he could have played if it had been a regular-season game. Anderson started in Marshalls place and had four catches for 65 yards and a TD.ROOKIE WATCHGiants: First-round CB Eli Apple had a solid showing against the Jets starters, covering Decker at times. He didnt play last week because of a knee injury in the preseason opener.Jets: Undrafted K Ross Martin, competing with veteran Nick Folk, kicked a 55-yard field goal in the third quarter and added a 29-yarder in the fourth.QB COMPARISONGiants: Nassib was 6 of 19 for 69 yards, including his two TD tosses to King.Jets: Smith went 3 of 5 for 14 yards on two drives. Petty, trying to secure a roster spot, was 5 of 10 for 59 yards before being replaced by Hackenberg on the drive following his interception.POSITION BATTLESGiants: King made a case to be the last receiver on the roster, finishing with two catches for 38 yards and his two scores.Jets: Ben Ijalana and Brent Qvale took turns at RT with the starters, and one could start if Breno Giacomini (back) isnt ready for the regular season.INJURY UPDATE:Giants: LB Jonathan Casillas (ribs), CB Leon Hall (concussion), rookie LB B.J. Goodson (concussion) and FB Nikita Whitlock (foot) left with injuries.Jets: LB David Harris left late in the first half with an injured right shoulder, which was in a sling after the game. Bowles said the veteran will have additional tests Sunday.QUOTABLE:Giants: Well, we have to get better moving the ball, getting first downs and just staying out of the negative plays, Manning said of the starting offense. There is definitely some room for improvement, but we will go on from here.Jets: I think we feel pretty good right now, said Fitzpatrick, 16 of 29 for 183 yards and a TD in the preseason. I dont know if those three games are a good indication of where we are.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '