Adam Jones and Steve Pearce of the Baltimore Orioles named the American League Co-Players of the Week

Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones and infielder/outfielder Steve Pearce have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending July 6th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Jones batted .423 (11-for-26) with a double, two homers, five RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base while Pearce batted .333 (10-for-30) with two doubles, three homers, nine RBI, eight runs scored and two steals as each player claimed their first career weekly honors in helping Baltimore to a 6-1 record during the period. They are the second and third O's to win this season after designated hitter Nelson Cruz won for the week ending June 1st. Among league leaders, Adam finished tied for second in batting average and base hits and was fifth in slugging percentage (.692). Meanwhile, Steve paced the Majors with 21 total bases, tied for tops among all batters in homers, RBI and runs scored, and finished fourth in the A.L. with a .700 slugging percentage.

In a matchup with the Texas Rangers on Monday, the right-handed-hitting Jones went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk to combine with a pair of two-run blasts from Pearce as Baltimore took a 7-1 victory at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Steve's two-homer day was the first of his career (in his 335th game) and his four RBI finished one shy of his career-best five notched on June 14, 2012 against Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, the 28-year-old Jones went 2-for-3 with a homer and tied a personal season high with three RBI and the right-handed-hitting Pearce walked twice and scored a pair of runs as the O's edged the Rangers, 6-4. In the finale of the four-game set with Texas on Thursday, the 31-year old Pearce stole the show with a career-high four hits in five trips to the plate, including a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored to lead Baltimore to a 5-2 victory and a sweep of the Rangers. Jones, a native of San Diego, added a single, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base in the triumph. After Friday's scheduled game with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park was postponed due to rain, the two A.L. East teams squared off in a post-holiday double dip on Saturday. The Sox edged the Orioles in the opener, 3-2, but Baltimore managed a split with a 7-4 victory in the nightcap. Jones, who will be making his fourth All-Star appearance and his second fan-elected start on July 15th at Target Field in Minneapolis, had a pair of hits and a run scored while Pearce, a Lakeland, Florida native, added two hits of his own with an RBI and a run scored. On Sunday, Jones went 2-for-5 with a walk and a run scored and extended his hitting streak to 10 games while Pearce, a University of South Carolina product, added a hit and scored a run as Baltimore edged Boston, 7-6.

Other noteworthy performances this past week included outfielder Desmond Jennings (.423, 5 2B, 1 HR, 7 R) of the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Garrett Richards (2-0, 2.35 ERA, 15.1 IP, 3 BB, 20 SO), who is a candidate for the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian.

In recognition of their American League Co-Players of the Week Awards, Adam Jones and Steve Pearce will each be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.