Bell And Rusin Top Performers Of The Week
Published on May 14, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - From May 7th to May 13th Josh Bell of the Reno Aces and Chris Rusin of the Iowa Cubs lit up the Pacific Coast League, and today the league office rewarded them by naming them the PCL Player and Pitcher of the Week for that period.
Bell paced the PCL in hitting last week as he hit .522 in six games for Reno, leading them to a 5-1 performance, including a four-game sweep in Memphis where he had two home runs and ten RBIs. The 25-year-old third baseman also had 12 hits, a slugging percentage of .913, a stolen base, and a league-best 12 RBIs for the Aces.
Bell, from Rockford, IL, was drafted in the 4th round in 2005 by the Los Angeles Dodgers before leading the Pioneer League in home runs in his sophomore season in 2006. In 2009 he was the Southern League All-Star Game MVP after collecting two hits, a home run and two RBIs in the game. Later that season he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, and on June 1, 2010, he made his Major League debut as he started at third base, and singled to left off of Trevor Cahill for his first hit. Last month, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and joined the Reno club, where he has hit .421 with 29 RBI in 19 games.
Rusin put together two strong starts last week as he won games in both Fresno and Sacramento. On May 8th the left-hander held the Grizzlies to just one run and three hits while striking out five over six innings, and on May 13th he took his dominance a step farther as he shut out the River Cats for eight innings, holding them to five hits and no runs while striking out seven. Rusin's performance, a combined line of 2-0, 14 innings, 0.64 ERA, and a league-best 14 strikeouts, was accomplished against the two teams in the PCL with the best record at 25 wins each.
Rusin, from Detroit, was drafted in the in 23rd round in 2008 by Oakland, but returned to the University of Kentucky for his senior year before being taken in the 4th round of the 2009 draft by the Cubs. The left-hander went 5-2 in 2011 in his first stint in the PCL, and is off to a 4-2 start with a 2.83 ERA so far in 2012. Baseball America credits Rusin with having the best change-up and command in Chicago's system, and he has upheld that reputation by walking just two batters per nine innings in his career.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2012
- Snyder's Shot Gives RedHawks 4-3 Win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Late Rally Lifts Las Vegas Past Zephyrs in 11 Innings - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Brown Leads Sox by 'Birds - Memphis Redbirds
- Snyder's Homer Drops Tucson - Tucson Padres
- Aces Split Doubleheader with Nashville - Reno Aces
- Sounds Split Doubleheader with Reno on Monday Night - Nashville Sounds
- Rusin Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Iowa Cubs
- Sky Sox Break 60 Year-Old PCL Record - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- 'Topes Return Thursday for Longest Homestand of Season - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Tacoma Rainiers - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks Game Notes: May 14, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Omaha Storm Chasers Home for Eight Games, May 17-24 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Bell Tabbed PCL Player of the Week - Reno Aces
- Bell And Rusin Top Performers Of The Week - PCL1
- U.S. Bank Student Heroes Program Kicks off 2012 Installment - Reno Aces
- Sands, Savage Help 'Topes Slam Salt Lake, 10-7 - Albuquerque Isotopes
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