Berkman slugs way to NL weekly honor

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) -- Lance Berkman, who hit .682 last week for the Houston Astros, was selected the National League player of the week, league officials said Monday.

Berkman piled up 15 hits in 22 at bats in games played May 5-11 for a major league-leading average. On Tuesday he went 5-for-5 against Washington with two doubles and four runs scored. He had four doubles and scored 10 runs for the week.

The .682 average was the highest over a six-game span (at least 20 at bats) since the Chicago Cubs' Derek Lee hit .750 June 17-23, 2004.

The weekly award was the fourth of Berkman's career.

Also on the lengthy list of players NL officials considered for the player of the week award were Berkman's teammates Carlos Lee and Chris Sampson.