On the strength of one of the most sizzling road trips in recent Red Sox memory, shortstop Edgar Renteria was named the American League's Player of the Week on Tuesday.

 

The right-handed hitter, who had struggled in his first few weeks with the Red Sox, regained his form in a big way. Both the Blue Jays and Yankees had no clue how to get him out during a six-game stretch between May 24-29, which saw Renteria go 16-for-24 with seven runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs. The signature moment from Renteria's red-hot week was a grand slam struck during Boston's 17-1 rout of the Yankees last Saturday.

 

During the six-game span alone, Renteria raised his average from .239 to .295, hitting safely in each game. Renteria had two home runs, six RBIs, seven runs scored and a .680 on-base percentage. He led the AL with 25 total bases while finishing fourth in slugging percentage at 1.042, and had five multihit games.

 

The Red Sox have been awed by Renteria's resurgence.

 

"He just keeps working and working," said Sox designated hitter David Ortiz. "That's the only way you can change things around. He's doing it."

 

Renteria has put in plenty of hours with hitting coach Ron Jackson.

 

"He made little adjustments here and there and he's taking off," Jackson said. "He's staying back on the baseball better. He's getting through the baseball better. What's helped him too is he's faced a lot of lefties and has gotten his confidence back up. His confidence was a little down. He's not trying to do too much. You know he's going to hit. If you have confidence, you're going to hit."

 

Renteria is the second Red Sox player to be named Player of the Week this season. Slugger Manny Ramirez received the award on April 25.

 

This is the first career AL Player of the Week Award for Renteria, who won the award twice as a National Leaguer. It marks the 95th time a member of the Boston Red Sox has captured the weekly honor since the award's inception in 1974, which is more than any other club.

 

Bank of America, the official bank of Major League Baseball, is the presenting sponsor of the American League and National League Player of the Week Awards, which reflect the bank's long-standing tradition of promoting and recognizing higher standards of accomplishment.

Thanks Tony!!!! :thumbup

I'm too lazy to actually read the article but didn't he get like 10 hits in a stretch of 12 at bats?

I see the past few games he's back to doing what he was doing earlier this year. No surprise he came outta it against the Yanks.. 2-for-his-last-11 but I'm rooting for Edgar. I have no bitter feelings at all.

 

Pretty sad if you think about it that it takes Tony to make a comment for Renteria to bust out.. JMO!