Ortiz named AL Co-Player of the Week

Seven-game stretch highlighed by game-winning homer

Though David Ortiz has his eyes on other hardware and accolades this season -- namely the American League Most Valuable Player award -- the honor he was given Monday isn't a bad place to start.
The Boston Red Sox slugger was named Bank of America American League Co-Player of the Week for games played July 31-Aug. 6. He shares the award with Cleveland's Travis Hafner.
Ortiz was 10-for-27 (.370) for the week with two doubles, five home runs, eight RBIs and 27 total bases. His slugging percentage over that span was 1.000. Ortiz's signature achievement of the week came against the Indians on July 31. He was 3-for-5 with four RBIs as the second of his two home runs won the game in the bottom of the ninth.
"We've seen it so often," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after that game. "The whole inning we're sitting there thinking, 'Let's just get David to the plate.' Obviously, because he's the middle of the order, and that means guys are on and we have a chance. But he just has the ability to take such good swings in those situations. He doesn't do anything different. I think he's smart enough to know the pressure is on the other team, even though we're down."
Cleveland's Casey Blake (.476, 4 HR, 9 RBI); Minnesota teammates Jason Bartlett (.607, .714 SLG, 5 RBI) and Justin Morneau (.400, 12 RBI); Devil Rays left-hander Casey Fossum (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13.0 IP, 15 SO); and Oakland right-hander Danny Haren (2-0, 1.69 ERA, 16.0 IP, 1 CG, 12 SO) also received consideration.
This is the first time both Ortiz and Hafner have won the weekly award this season. Ortiz was named AL Player of the Month for July.