Edwin's 6 HRs, 17 RBIs net him weekly AL honor

In helping the Blue Jays keep up their torrid pace this month, Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week.

Entering Monday, the Toronto slugger is riding a 25-game hitting streak (the longest in baseball this year, and fourth longest in Blue Jays history) and a streak of 30 straight games in which he's reached base.

Encarnacion hit six homers and two doubles, drove in 17 runs and scored seven runs last week, batting .391 (9-for-23) to earn his fifth career weekly honor. He led the Majors in homers, RBIs, slugging (1.261), extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (29).

Video: Encarnacion is the most powerful man in the Majors

Encarnacion has tied franchise records with eight straight games with at least one RBI and eight straight with at least one extra-base hit.

The Dominican Republic native had a huge day against the Tigers on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with three homers, four runs and nine RBIs for his fourth multihomer game of the season and 21st of his career. In doing so, he hit his third grand slam of the year, tying a Blue Jays season record (Carlos Delgado in 1997 and Darrin Fletcher in 2000).

That nine-RBI performance Saturday is the most by any player in the Majors this season and also matches a club record set by Roy Howell in 1977.

Video: Must C Classic: Encarnacion goes deep thrice

During the seven-game stretch from August 22-29, Encarnacion drove in 23 runs, becoming just the second player in baseball history to do so (Joe DiMaggio also drove in 23 over seven games in 1939).

Encarnacion has 35 RBIs so far this month, extending the club record he previously shared with Delgado.