 07/19/2004 11:58 PM ET
Martinez AL's top player again
Indians catcher first this season to win honor twice
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By Elliott Teaford / Special to MLB.com |
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| Victor Martinez went 5-for-5 with three homers and seven RBIs in an 18-6 win over the Mariners. (Mark Duncan/AP)
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ANAHEIM -- Indians catcher Victor Martinez was named American League Player of
the Week for the second time this season, batting .500 with four home
runs and eight RBIs in four games after the All-Star break.
"He's had a great year, even though he continues to learn on the job,"
Indians manager Eric Wedge said after Martinez had two hits and a walk
during an 8-5 victory Monday over the Anaheim Angels.
"He's been strong behind the plate. He's understood what we've been looking
for from him both offensively and defensively."
Martinez, who shared the honors with Joe Nathan of the Minnesota Twins for the week ending May 16, is the first AL player to win the award twice.
Martinez, 25, was batting .300 with 16 homers and 71 RBIs going into
Monday's game against the Anaheim Angels. He represented the Indians in the
All-Star Game last week at Houston's Minute Maid Park.
Martinez went 7-for-14 with 19 total bases and a
1.357 slugging percentage. He set three career highs by going 5-for-5 with three
homers and seven RBIs during the Indians' 18-6 victory over the Seattle
Mariners. He became the first Indians catcher to homer three times in a
game.
In the win, the switch-hitting Martinez homered from each side of the plate as the Indians tied a club record by hitting eight homers in the game.
Martinez hit
a pinch-hit homer in Sunday's 7-5 loss to Seattle.
Elliott Teaford is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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