Brandon Moss of the Oakland Athletics named the American League Player of the Week

Oakland Athletics first baseman and outfielder Brandon Moss has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending September 1st. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Moss batted .364 (8-for-22) with one double, four home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored over seven games to lead Oakland to a 6-1 mark during the week as the chase for the A.L. West title heats up heading into the season's final month. This is his second career weekly honor, last accomplishing the feat for the week ending June 17, 2012. Brandon led all Major League hitters in homers, RBI, slugging percentage (.955) and total bases (21), and was tied for second overall in runs scored. In addition, he was tied for first in walks (6) and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.500) among his A.L. mates.

In the opening tilt of a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Moss singled, walked twice and scored a run as the Athletics edged the Tigers, 8-6, at Comerica Park. The A's had dropped four of its previous five against the A.L. Central-leading Tigers before Monday's triumph. Amidst soggy weather conditions in the Motor City on Tuesday, the left-handed-hitting Moss walked, scored a run and later launched a two-run homer to guide the A's to a 6-3 victory in a rain-shortened six innings. On Wednesday, the Monroe, Georgia native went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, six RBI and three runs scored as Oakland routed Detroit, 14-4. The six RBI established a new career high for the 29-year-old, with his four hits and two homers matching career bests. In Thursday's finale in Detroit, Moss homered for the third consecutive game, this one a two-run shot off ace Max Scherzer, but the effort wasn't enough as the Tigers won, 7-6. The seven-year veteran finished the Tigers series with 10 RBI, marking the most RBI in a series for the A's since Damian Miller had 12 RBI in a three-game set against Cincinnati from June 7-9, 2004.

Moss, an eighth-round pick in the 2002 Draft (by Boston), has enjoyed a breakout season in 2013. Heading into play today, Brandon has set new career highs in runs (61), hits (96), homers (25), RBI (69), walks (42), extra-base hits (42) and at-bats (385).

Other noteworthy performances last week included Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia (.458, 11 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI); Kansas City Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez (.391, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and starting pitcher James Shields (2-0, 0.63 ERA, 14.1 IP, 16 SO); Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino (.435, 10 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI); right-hander R.A. Dickey (2-0, 1.88 ERA, 14.1 IP, 12 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays; starter Ivan Nova (1-0, shutout vs. Orioles on August 31st) of the New York Yankees; and pitcher Brett Oberholtzer (1-0, shutout vs. Mariners on September 1st) of the Houston Astros.

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Brandon Moss will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.