Rick Bell, Denny Stark Win PCL Player of the Week Honors
May 31, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. â Las Vegas 51s infielder Rick Bell wins the Pacific Coast League Batter of the Week Award for games beginning on May 24th and continuing through May 30th after blasting five home runs with seven RBI in seven games. Colorado Springs Sky Sox starter Denny Stark earns the Pitcher of the Week accolade for the same period after he allowed just one earned run in 14 innings-pitched over two starts. Bell, who is the son of former Major League star and manager Buddy Bell and the brother of Philadelphia Phillies infielder David Bell, began the week with a flourish, belting two homers on May 26th in a 17-6 Las Vegas victory at Colorado Springs. The following day, the Los Angeles Dodgers prospect returned with two more hits against the Sky Sox, including a double and another home run. Away from altitude, Bell was just as prolific, hitting another double and yet another homer when the 51s returned home to face Tacoma on May 28th. For the week, Bell racked up five home runs, as many as he had for the 51s in the entire 2003 season, eight runs scored, a .320 batting average, and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
On May 25th, Stark had no problem with Bell and the 51s, holding Las Vegas scoreless on two hits through seven innings to win his third straight game. The right-hander also struck out seven while lowering his earned run average to 1.03 in his last four starts over 26 innings-pitched. Five days later, the Edgerton, Ohio native allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits through seven innings while striking out five in a no decision at Nashville. In his last two starts, Stark, who began the year with the Colorado Rockies but was optioned to Colorado Springs on April 21st, has an ERA of 0.64 while allowing opponents to hit for a .184 batting average against him. Stark is the second Sky Sox starter to win PCL Pitcher of the Week honors this season, joining Aaron Cook, who claimed the award on April 19th.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 31, 2004
- Trappers and River Cats Split Again - Edmonton Trappers
- Sounds Edge Sky Sox On 'Wild' Ending - Nashville Sounds
- Rick Bell, Denny Stark Win PCL Player of the Week Honors - PCL1
- Sox Win Second Straight - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Knorr placed on disabled list - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers win in 12-7 shootout - Portland Beavers
- Despite Season High 19 Hits, Sidewinders Fall to Beavers - Tucson Sidewinders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
