AJ Burnett named NL Player of the Week

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher AJ Burnett has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending August 5th.

Burnett was a perfect 2-0 during the week, notching his 13th and 14th wins of the season. The veteran right-hander led the Majors with 17.2 innings pitched and tied for the Major League lead in wins. Burnett’s 15 strikeouts were the second-most by an N.L. hurler, while his 1.02 ERA ranked eighth among qualifying N.L. starters.

On Tuesday, July 31st the Little Rock, Arkansas native posted a one-hit, complete-game shutout in a 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Burnett took a no-hitter into the eighth frame before Cubs pinch-hitter Adrian Cardenas singled to right field on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. The 35-year-old fanned eight batters in the outing while walking just two on the way to his first complete-game shutout since 2006 and his sixth victory over the Cubs in seven career starts (6-0, 2.78 ERA). The one-hit shutout also marked Burnett’s lowest-hit game since his May 12, 2001 no-hitter at San Diego.

He followed his complete-game effort with an 8.2-inning gem on Sunday, allowing just two runs on three hits in his 20th start of the season, to give the Bucs a 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Burnett threw 102 pitches (64 strikes) before giving way to closer Joel Hanrahan in the ninth inning for the one-out save. The win was Burnett’s fourth consecutive victory and the 13th in his last 14 decisions.

With a 14-3 record, Burnett is tied for the Major League lead in wins. This is Burnett’s fourth career weekly award and his first since the week ending April 17, 2005.