Napoli and Middlebrooks Named AL Co-Players of the Week
The Guru
Contributing Writer
Red Sox teammates Mike Napoli and Will Middlebrooks were named Co-Players of the Week in the American League.
It was quite a week for the two Sox infielders.
On Wednesday, Middlebrooks and Napoli each doubled and homered and combined for six RBI as the Sox routed the Tigers, 20-4, at Fenway Park. Their home runs were two of eight that Boston hit, their most since 1977.
In the Thursday opener of a four-game series with the New York Yankees, Middlebrooks went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored, and Napoli added a pair hits with an RBI of his own as the Red Sox edged the Yanks, 9-8.
On Friday, Napoli went 3-for-3 with a double, a grand slam, four RBI and three runs scored, and Middlebrooks went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs to lead Boston to a 12-8 win.
Saturday, Napoli homered twice and drove in three runs to guide Boston to their fifth straight win, a 13-9 decision over the Bombers.
On Sunday, Middlebrooks homered and singled - his fifth straight multi-hit game - but the Yanks pulled out the final game of the series with a 4-3.
For the week, Napoli hit .476 with two doubles, four homers, nine RBI and seven runs scored in seven games. His 1.143 slugging percentage led the majors.
Middlebrooks batted .464 with a double, four homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored in seven games. He led all major league hitters with 26 total bases.
Since being recalled from Pawtucket August 10, Middlebrooks has hit .368 with a 1.055 OPS in 26 games raising his batting average from .192 to .245.
With the news coming out Sunday that outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will be out awhile with a foot fracture, the bats of Napoli and Middlebrooks become that much more important as the Sox push towards the playoffs.
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Contributing Writer
It was quite a week for the two Sox infielders.
On Wednesday, Middlebrooks and Napoli each doubled and homered and combined for six RBI as the Sox routed the Tigers, 20-4, at Fenway Park. Their home runs were two of eight that Boston hit, their most since 1977.
In the Thursday opener of a four-game series with the New York Yankees, Middlebrooks went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored, and Napoli added a pair hits with an RBI of his own as the Red Sox edged the Yanks, 9-8.
On Friday, Napoli went 3-for-3 with a double, a grand slam, four RBI and three runs scored, and Middlebrooks went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs to lead Boston to a 12-8 win.
Saturday, Napoli homered twice and drove in three runs to guide Boston to their fifth straight win, a 13-9 decision over the Bombers.
On Sunday, Middlebrooks homered and singled - his fifth straight multi-hit game - but the Yanks pulled out the final game of the series with a 4-3.
For the week, Napoli hit .476 with two doubles, four homers, nine RBI and seven runs scored in seven games. His 1.143 slugging percentage led the majors.
Middlebrooks batted .464 with a double, four homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored in seven games. He led all major league hitters with 26 total bases.
Since being recalled from Pawtucket August 10, Middlebrooks has hit .368 with a 1.055 OPS in 26 games raising his batting average from .192 to .245.
With the news coming out Sunday that outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will be out awhile with a foot fracture, the bats of Napoli and Middlebrooks become that much more important as the Sox push towards the playoffs.
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More musings from The Guru.
