Bruins affecting National League playoff races

UCLA Assistant Sports Information Director Alex Timiraos noted that several recent Bruin players are having a major effect in the down-to-the-wire playoff races in the National League:

>> Arizona is holding on for dear life in the National League West, in part thanks to Eric Byrnes, who played at UCLA from 1995-98. Byrnes bats lead-off much of the time for the Diamondbacks, but has 21 home runs and 83 runs batted in to go along with a solid .288 average.

>> Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins, who played at UCLA from 1998-2000, has been a big part of the Rockies’ surge toward the postseason during the team’s current 11-game win streak. For the season, Atkins is hitting .294 with 25 homers and 107 RBIs, but has been on a tear in the last month, batting .379. The Rockies and Diamondbacks play three games in Denver this weekend that will decide the fate of both teams.

>> In Philadelphia, Chase Utley (also 1998-2000) is proving to be one of the most valuable players in the league as the Phillies’ rise to a tie for the lead in the National League East has come with his return from injury. In just 129 games, he’s batting .331 with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs, and a sensational .411 on-base percentage.

In the American League, ex-Bruin Ben Francisco (2000-01) has enjoyed a modest rookie season with the Central Division-winning Indians, hitting .271 with three home runs and 11 RBIs since being called up May 1.

Thanks, Alex.