With five home runs in seven games last week, including two in Wednesday’s loss to Detroit, Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was easily named American League Player of the Week for the week ending 11 May 2008, his first-ever honor. Youkilis, who also sports a nine-game hitting streak through action on Sunday, went 12-for-32 (.375) over those same seven games to raise his team-leading average to .322 while scoring eight runs and knocking home ten. He now leads the team with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 38 games this season and his home run total is already half his production from 2007. Youkilis also continues to play Gold Glove-caliber defense at first, having now gone 236 straight games without making a fielding error, which continues to add to his Major League record. Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell also gathered consideration for the award, having batted .406 with three doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI over the same span.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell