Matsuzaka is AL player of the week

NEW YORK, May 21 (UPI) -- Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka won both his starts last week and was selected the American League player of the week.

Matsuzaka defeated Detroit May 14 with a complete game effort and lasted eight innings in collecting a win over Atlanta Saturday. He had a 2.12 earned run average for the two appearances and struck out 11.

The Red Sox' right-hander is 6-2 this season with a 4.06 ERA.

Others considered for American League player of the week were: Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, Texas' Victor Dias, the New York Yankees' Jorge Posada and Detroit's Justin Verlander.