New York, NY (Sports Network) – Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist has been named the American League’s top player for the week ending May 1.
Zobrist hit .440 (11-for-25) with a pair of homers to go with a .444 on-base percentage in six games during the week. He led MLB with five doubles and 13 runs batted in and tied for first with eight runs scored, while finishing second with a .960 slugging percentage.
His best game came on Thursday in the opener of a day/night doubleheader at Minnesota. Zobrist ended with a career-best four hits, including a homer and a pair of doubles, while driving in eight, also a career high, in an 15-3 win.
His RBI total broke the club’s previous single game mark of seven, set by Carlos Pena in the 2007 campaign.
In the second game of Thursday’s twin bill, Zobrist went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in a 6-1 victory.
This is his second career weekly award and third honor for a Rays player this season. Outfielder Johnny Damon and right-handed starter James Shields also claimed the accolade.
Others considered for the award were first baseman Adam Lind and outfielder Jose Bautista of Toronto, second baseman Robinson Cano of the Yankees, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver and Orioles rookie left-hander Zach Britton.
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