Bell, who began the year with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Class-A Advanced squad in Rancho Cucamonga, was sent down to play for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in mid-June. He excelled there, going 1-0 with a 2.12 earned-run average. The exclamation point came on Tuesday, when he tossed a complete-game gem, notching the victory against Wisconsin.
On Thursday, Bell was called back up to the Quakes, where he had tallied a 5-6 mark and a 5.08 ERA in 13 games prior to going back to Cedar Rapids.
Sunday saw his return to the mound for the Quakes, as he came on in relief to start the seventh inning against High Desert with a 3-2 lead. After retiring the first two batters, he gave up two doubles, a triple and the lead in the process.
The Quakes came back in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead and Bell followed with a scoreless eighth en route to a Rancho Cucamonga win and evening his record at 6-6.
The Quakes are now 6-4 in the second half of the season, good enough for second place in the California League South Division.
Marco Estrada (Glendale Community College, 2003) Columbus Clippers pitcher: The 24-year-old starter turned in his best performances thus far for the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A squad, tossing six scoreless innings on Saturday in a 13-1 victory against Indianapolis. The former Vaquero allowed six hits, walked none and struck out three batters, while also knocking in three runs offensively on a two-run single and a bases-loaded walk.
In three games with Columbus since getting called up from Double-A Harrisburg, Estrada’s gone 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched, having struck out 12 and walked three.
Columbus is now 44-37, and in second place in the International League West.
Michael Valadez (Glendale Community College, 2006) Lake County Captains catcher: The Class-A backstop was ejected, along with both squads’ pitchers and managers in a 4-3 loss to Hagerstown on Sunday.
