Nelson Named PCL Player of the Week
August 22, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Brad Nelson of the Round Rock Express and Luis Mendoza of the Omaha Storm Chasers have been named Pacific Coast League Player and Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 15-21, the league office announced today.
Nelson proved to be a vital component of the Express offense during their eight-game road trip to California, especially during the four-game set at Fresno. The left-handed slugger went 10-for-15 against the Grizzlies, drawing four walks, scoring seven runs and driving in another eight. In the first game of the series, Nelson went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a two-run home run in the top of the 10th that led the Express to a 7-5 win. The following night, Nelson drove in the only run of the entire game for both teams when he hit a two-out RBI-single in the first inning. On August 18th, Nelson was in the middle of Round Rock's offensive output as he had three hits, including an RBI single in the first and a three-run homer in the fourth of a 7-4 win.
Nelson, whose nine RBI and 1.309 OPS from last week ranked him third in both categories for the PCL, is batting .331 with a .389 on-base percentage and .640 slugging percentage since the All-Star break. The Iowa native's 37 RBI since the mid-season intermission are the most in the PCL while his 11 home runs over the same stretch are tied for the league-lead.
Mendoza earned a win in each of his two starts last week, posting a 1.38 earned run average over 13 innings. In his first start, the southpaw surrendered two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five in a road win for Omaha over the Tacoma Rainiers. Mendoza's second start from the week had him facing divisional foe, the Nashville Sounds. The 27-year-old exhibited why he is the PCL's ERA leader by allowing one unearned run and scattering five hits over seven innings.
Along with his top ranking in the PCL for ERA (2.18), Mendoza also leads the circuit in batting average against (.237) and WHIP (1.24). The first-year Omaha pitcher, who made 188 starts in 219 career games entering the 2011 season, became a full-time starter for the Storm Chasers on June 6th, where he has since gone 8-3 with a 1.80 ERA in the starting role.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 22, 2011
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- Round Rock Express - Game Notes Vs. New Orleans Zephyrs - Round Rock Express
- PCL Awards Mendoza Pitcher of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Nelson, Mendoza Earn Week's Top Honors - PCL1
- Nelson Named PCL Player of the Week - Round Rock Express
- Stein, Cordaro Named Executives of the Year - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sixth Finishes Padres - Tucson Padres
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