Prospect Bell collects five hits in doubleheader

Outfielder Josh Bell, the Pirates' No. 6 prospect, collected five hits and drove in four runs in two games Thursday, helping Class A Advanced Bradenton split a doubleheader with Lakeland.

In the first game of the day, Bradenton defeated Lakeland, 7-6, in 10 innings. Bell went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and scored three runs. He added two more hits in the nightcap, but the Marauders lost, 4-3, in eight innings.

Bell, ranked No. 63 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, extended his hitting streak to nine games Thursday. He is hitting .472/.525/.694 during the streak.

In 38 games this season, Bell is hitting .315 with three home runs. A year after hitting 13 home runs in 119 games in the South Atlantic League, his home run rate has slipped in the more expansive parks of the Florida State League. But he still ranks among the league leaders in slugging percentage (.479) and doubles (nine).