Perfection earns Felix AL Player of Week honors

Tossing the 23rd perfect game in Major League history earned Mariners ace Felix Hernandez his first career American League Player of the Week honor on Monday.

Hernandez, who accomplished the feat on Wednesday against the Rays, became the first Mariners hurler to toss a perfect game.

The right-hander struck out 12 batters in a 1-0 win at Safeco Field.

The perfecto marked the Mariners' fourth no-hitter in franchise history, with teammates Kevin Millwood and five other relievers combining on a no-no earlier this season against the Dodgers.

The victory moved Hernandez to 11-5 on the season and extended his personal winning streak to seven games. In his last 11 starts dating back to June 23, the fireballer is 7-0 with a 1.58 ERA. He's tossed four shutouts and fanned 83 over that span.

The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner leads the league with four shutouts this season. He's also tied for second in complete games and ranks third in strikeouts with 174.

First baseman Justin Smoak was the only other Mariners player honored this year (for the week ending June 3). The last Seattle pitcher to win the weekly award was Joel Pineiro on May 7, 2006.