Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets named National League Player of the Week

New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending September 1st. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In seven games last week, Murphy led the National League with five doubles while tying for first in runs scored (7) and hits (13). The Jacksonville, Florida native collected seven RBI, tying for the second-most in the N.L. last week, while his 18 total bases were tied for third. Murphy hit .448 (13-for-29), representing the seventh-highest mark among qualifying National Leaguers, while posting a .448 on-base percentage and a .621 slugging percentage.

On Thursday, Murphy helped the Mets slug their way to an 11-3 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies with a careerbest-tying four-hit effort. The 28-year-old went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored in the win as the Mets earned a split in their four-game set at Citi Field. It marked the fifth time Murphy has clubbed two-or-more doubles in a game this season.

The left-handed-hitting Murphy, who was selected in the 13th round of the 2006 Draft, continued his hit parade into the weekend series at Washington, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored en route to a 3-2 win in Friday's series-opener at Nationals Park. In Saturday's outing, Murphy helped his club with a three-hit effort that included two runs scored and pair of RBI. His runscoring single in the top of the third ignited a six-run inning for the Mets, who cruised to an 11-3 victory. Murphy continued to feast on Nationals pitching in Sunday's finale, collecting a pair of RBI on two hits in a 6-5 loss. It was his fourth straight game with two or more hits, tying a career high for Murphy, who had a similar streak July 24th-26th of this year. The two-hit effort was his teamleading 45th multi-hit game of the season, which is the seventh-most among National Leaguers. The two RBI gave Murphy 65 for the season, tying his previous career high set last year. His five doubles this week gave him 30 for the season, good for 10th in the N.L, while his 158 hits rank fifth. This marks Daniel's first career weekly award.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Murphy's Mets teammate Jonathon Niese (1-0, 1.23 ERA, 9 SO, 14.2 IP); Allen Craig (.455, 10 H, HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, .682 SLG, .478 OBP) and Joe Kelly (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 SO, 12.0 IP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Washington's Ian Desmond (.480, 12 H, HR, 6 RBI, .640 SLG) and Rafael Soriano (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 4 SO, 3.0 IP); Milwaukee's Scooter Gennett (.455, 5 R, 10 H, .500 OBP); and Yasiel Puig (.458, 11 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI 3 SB, .792 SLG, .500 OBP) and Zack Greinke (2-0, 1.72 ERA, 16 SO, 15.2 ERA) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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