Huston Street of the San Diego Padres named National League Player of the Week

San Diego Padres reliever Huston Street has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending September 8th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In five appearances last week, Street led the N.L. and tied for the Major League lead with four saves. The veteran right-hander posted a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA, allowing just a single earned run in his 5.0 innings of work. Street held opponents to three hits and fanned four without allowing a walk.

In Monday's matchup against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park, Street retired the defending World Champions in order to earn his 26th save of the season, preserving a 4-1 Padres' victory. Street got outfielder Gregor Blanco to fly out before fanning pinch-hitter Tony Abreu and getting leadoff hitter Angel Pagan to ground out to second to seal the win. The following night, Street was called upon again, converting the save after entering the game with a 3-2 lead. The 2012 N.L. All-Star gave up a two-out double to first baseman Brandon Belt, but slammed the door on the Giants by inducing a weak comebacker off the bat of Hector Sanchez for the third out. With the scoreless ninth, Street extended his streak of consecutive shutout innings to 20.1 innings of work, dating back to June 26th. In that span, the Texas native was a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities while recording 20 strikeouts with just four walks. The scoreless streak ended on Friday, as Street allowed his first run in more than two months in the form of a go-ahead leadoff homer to his former teammate, Colorado Rockies slugger Todd Helton, in the first game of a three-game set with Colorado in South California. Street retired three straight Rockies hitters after giving up the tie-breaking tally, and would go on to earn his second win of the season after a two-run rally in the ninth gave the Padres a 4-3 victory. In Saturday's matchup between the N.L. West rivals, Street worked a perfect ninth inning in a 2-1 Pads win after starter Tyson Ross tossed 7.0 shutout innings. In Sunday's series finale, Street again worked a 1-2-3 ninth, converting his 29th save as the Padres completed the series sweep with a 5-2 win. His 29 saves are tied for eighth among N.L. closers. Over the last two seasons, his 96.3 save percentage (52-for-54) is the best in the Majors, while posting a 2.33 ERA (23 earned runs in 88.2 innings pitched) with 84 strikeouts in 90 relief appearances. This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the week ending June 14, 2009, as a member of the Rockies.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Matt Carpenter (.379, 10 R, 11 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3 RBI, .655 SLG, .455 OBP) and rookie Michael Wacha (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 SO, 13.0 IP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Cincinnati's Shin-Soo Choo (.435, 6 R, 10 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .696 SLG, .606 OBP) and Homer Bailey (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 17 SO, 14.0 IP); Atlanta's Freddie Freeman (.280, 7 H, HR, 8 RBI); Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen (.450, 5 R, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, .850 SLG, .577 OBP); San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval (.360, 9 H, 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .800 SLG, .385 OBP) and Yusmeiro Petit (1-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 9.0 IP, 7 SO); and Miami Marlins rookie Christian Yelich (.385, 4 R, 10 H, HR, 4 RBI, .538 SLG).

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