Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Copyright c Las Vegas Review-Journal

HOT HITTER: 51s' Chen in hitting groove
Big-league prospect has hit several long home runs in streak

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL



Chin-Feng Chen is on one of those rolls that legitimizes the preseason hype.

Including the 51s' 6-4 victory Monday against New Orleans at Cashman Field,
he has gone 16-for-43 with six home runs and 10 RBIs over his past 10 games,
raising his batting average from .265 to .280.

"He's been a streaky hitter his whole career," 51s manager Brad Mills said.
"He might be heading (into a good streak) right now."

Labeled by Baseball America as the Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 2 prospect, Chen
is delivering, often when the 51s need it.

On Sunday against New Orleans, he led off the bottom of the ninth inning with
a single and later scored to send the game into extra innings. In the 13th,
Chen led off with another single and eventually scored the game-winner. He
had homered earlier in the game, a left-field blast that easily traveled more
than 400 feet.

The day before, his single in the 11th helped the 51s defeat Oklahoma, 3-2.

His best moment during the homestand occurred Thursday against the RedHawks.
His opposite-field homer led off the ninth to tie the game, setting the stage
for the 51s to win the game later in the inning. Chen also hit a two-run
homer in the third inning, a shot at least 440 feet to center field.

"Not only his hitting, but his whole game is getting better and his
confidence is rising," Mills said.