SEATTLE — The Boomstick is, well, booming.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz was picked Monday as the American League’s Player of the Week for the period that ended Sunday after hitting six homers and driving in 10 runs in six games.
Cruz had two homers and five RBI in Sunday’s 11-10 comeback victory over Texas at Safeco Field, including a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning.
“That at-bat (Sunday) to win the ballgame,” manager Lloyd McClendon said, “you saw a very calm guy at the plate. He really slowed things down and did quite a good job of winning that ballgame.”
This marks the fourth time in Cruz’s career that he was picked as the AL’s player of the week. He initially won the award in 2010 while playing for Texas and won it twice last season while playing for Baltimore.
“When you’re feeling good,” Cruz said, “you see the pitches well, and you can drive the ball to any part of the field. Especially when I’m driving the ball the other way, that’s when I’m feeling (my best).”
Cruz will receive a watch from Game Time in recognition of the award. St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter was picked as the National League Player of the Week after going 12-for-25 with seven doubles.
The Mariners had players win the award three times in 2014. Third baseman Kyle Seager was picked for the weeks ending April 27 and June 29, while pitcher Felix Hernandez won for the week ending June 8.
Cruz was 12-for-24 overall in the six games while compiling a 1.806 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). He also hit homers in the two games preceding the one-week award period and leads the majors with eight.
Five teams have fewer homers than Cruz going into Monday: Cleveland and Miami (seven), Philadelphia and St, Louis (six) and Milwaukee (three).
Cruz is the first player to hit eight homers in a club’s first 12 games since 2007, when ex-Mariner Alex Rodriguez had eight in the New York Yankees’ first 12 games.
“He’s probably going to be player of the month,” McClendon said. “I think (anyone) would be hard-pressed to beat that. He’s been outstanding.”
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