KC pitcher Greinke wins AL weekly award

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke was named Monday the American League Player of the Week.

Greinke won two starts last week with a 1.06 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Last Wednesday against Cleveland, the right-hander had a career-best 15 strikeouts to set a Royals record for a nine-inning game. He topped Mark Gubicza's mark of 14 set Aug. 27, 1988 against Minnesota.

Sunday, Greinke pitched a one-hit shutout against Seattle. He became just the fourth pitcher since 1900 to follow up a 15-strikeout performance with a one-hitter, joining Vida Blue in 1971, Randy Johnson in 1998 and Pedro Martinez in 1999.

This was the second career weekly award for Greinke, who also won the honor April 20.