Baxter's Cycle, Kirkman's Gem Earn Pair PCL Awards
Published on June 14, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Mike Baxter of the Portland Beavers and Michael Kirkman of the Oklahoma City RedHawks have been named the Pacific Coast League's Player and Pitcher of the Week for June 7-13, the league announced Monday.
Baxter, a left-handed hitting first baseman-outfielder, put together his finest week in the PCL exactly one year after joining the Triple-A ranks. He batted .455 (10-for-22), belted three home runs, drove in 10, scored seven times, drew five walks and most importantly hit for the cycle on June 8 in Reno. In that ballgame, Baxter went 5-for-5 with six RBI, leading the Beavers to a 13-8 victory over the Aces. It was the first cycle for a Portland hitter since the franchise returned to the Rose City in 2001.
The Padres' fourth-round pick in the 2005 first-year player draft, Baxter has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, but is still seeking his first signature campaign in the minor leagues. The Vanderbilt graduate dominated Texas League pitching during a monster May of 2009, batting .426 with 17 doubles and 26 RBI for the month, but had never collected more than two homers and 10 RBI in any given month in Triple-A - until now. Entering play Monday, Baxter is hitting .372 with three homers and 12 RBI in just 11 June games.
Kirkman, a 23-year-old left-hander, is putting together a fine season for the RedHawks, punctuated by his tremendous outing this past week at Omaha. In that contest, Kirkman fired seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out nine Royals. The victory improved his record to 6-1 on the season, while lowering his ERA to 3.17.
Standing at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Kirkman was taken just 31 picks after Baxter in the same 2005 draft. He has steadily worked his way up through the Rangers' system, including a dominant performance in 2009 for Single-A Bakersfield of the hitter-friendly California League. In that stint, he went 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA, striking out 54 batters in 48 innings pitched.
The awards are the second of the season given to members of the Beavers and RedHawks. Radhames Liz won the Pitcher of the Week for Portland from April 19-25, while Derek Holland of Oklahoma City took home the award the previous week, from April 8-18.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 14, 2010
- Halman's Two Homers Down Sox, Lose 11-6 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Bowker Blast Leads Grizzlies over Beavers, 6-3 - Portland Beavers
- River Cats Hold On for 5-3 Win over Aces - Reno Aces
- Express Fall Short in Ninth, Lose 5-4 to I-Cubs - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Drop Homestand Opener to Redbirds, 7-5 - Nashville Sounds
- Cubs Hang On to Top Express, 5-4 - Iowa Cubs
- Baxter's Cycle, Kirkman's Gem Earn Pair PCL Awards - PCL1
- Beavers' Mike Baxter Named Player Of The Week - Portland Beavers
- RedHawks Postponed - Oklahoma City Comets
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