And, the season stretched on for a bit longer for two members of the hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, including one who enjoyed the finest moment of a 15-year career on October’s grand stage.
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BELL GETS HIS WINGS
IN BIG LEAGUE DEBUT
When Trevor Bell was selected 37th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Crescenta Valley High, it was presumed to be only a matter of time before the promising right-hander would take the mound at Angel Stadium.
Bell put in his time in the Angels’ minor league system, where he had his ups and downs, but frequently excelled, particularly early this season.
A strong beginning with the double-A Arkansas Travelers followed by an impressive stretch with the triple-A Salt Lake Bees was enough to convince the Angels that Bell was finally ready and he made his Major League debut before 37,859 on Aug. 12 in Anaheim against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Although he settled for a no-decision in the Angels’ 5-3 come-from-behind victory, Bell was fairly sharp, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out four batters and walking but one over 5 1/3 innings.
“It was amazing,” Bell told the News-Press after his debut, which was witnessed first hand by roughly 200 local supporters, including his former Falcons Coach Phil Torres and former Little League Coach and current agent Bill Hertz. “It was everything I wished it could be and more.”
Bell remained on the Angels roster through the end of the regular season, making two more starts before moving to the bullpen where he made four relief appearances. His first career win in the majors came on the road on Aug. 18 when he went 5 1/3 innings against the Cleveland Indians to win a 5-4 decision.
“Any first major league win would be a dream come true,” Bell told mlb.com, after the win. “Even if it was a 10-9 game, and yourself and your team gets the win, that’s a dream.”
