Twins catcher AL player of week

NEW YORK, June 12 (UPI) -- Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was named Monday as the American League player of the week.

Mauer led the majors this past week with a .625 average (15-for-24) with five doubles, four RBI and two stolen bases. He reached base safely four times for five straight games and is on an eight-game hitting streak.

Mauer went 6-for-12 in a three-game series against Baltimore, with Minnesota winning two of those games. Last Tuesday, he hit 4-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in a 4-2 loss to Seattle.

He raised his batting average 20 points last week and is now leading the majors with a .386 average, 20 points higher than the next closest player, Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle.