The Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts and the Nationals' Mark Reynolds were named the American League and National League Players of the Week presented by W.B. Mason, respectively, MLB announced Monday.
Reynolds did nearly all his damage over the weekend against the Marlins. He began the week by hitting a respectable 3-for-6 (.333) with an RBI and two walks in a three-game set against Boston and the opener vs. Miami at Nationals Park.
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Reynolds didn't start Friday, but he delivered a pinch-hit walk-off home run in the ninth inning to seal the Nats' 13th consecutive victory against Miami, the longest winning streak in team history over a single opponent.
But it was Saturday when Reynolds truly earned his honor, making history as the 15th Major Leaguer to record at least 10 RBIs, as he went 5-for-5 with two home runs. Prior to Saturday, Reynolds had driven in just 14 runs all season.
"These things don't happen often," Reynolds said. "I've been playing a long time, and I've only had five [RBIs in a game]. You got a little luck involved. Sometimes you just take good swings the night before and you feel confident going into the next day, and that's what happened."
Reynolds' teammate Trea Turner totaled eight RBIs in the opener against the Marlins on Thursday, making them the first pair of teammates to record eight or more RBIs in a game in the same week, per Elias Sports Bureau.
Reynolds also hit 2-for-4 with a double and made his first career pitching appearance in Sunday's finale, recording the final out of the game with the bullpen stretched due to starter Tanner Roark lasting just four frames.
Bogaerts, meanwhile, turned in a more traditional Player of the Week performance. After going 0-for-3 at the plate Monday against the Nationals, Bogaerts homered Tuesday and Friday and drove in at least two runs in four straight games.
For the week, Boston's shortstop hit .400/.600/.933 (6-for-15) with two doubles, two homers, 10 RBIs and eight walks as the Red Sox won six straight and outscored their opponents 50-20. On Saturday, Bogaerts' bases-clearing double into center field gave the Red Sox a 4-3 lead over the Royals. After Kansas City rookie starter Brad Keller held Boston to just four hits through the first four innings, Bogaerts' double woke up a lineup that scored all 15 of its runs in the fifth inning and later.
"It's something special," Bogaerts said of his team's red-hot offense. "We have guys on this team having amazing seasons. Stuff that, once you retire, you can definitely look back and say, 'Man, you know what, I was a part of that team.'"