Fernandez wins second NL Rookie of the Month Award

CHICAGO -- Jose Fernandez was named the National League Rookie of the Month for August on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old All-Star also won the award for July, becoming the first pitcher to win two Rookie of the Month awards in a single season since Craig Kimbrel in 2011 (June and August). Fernandez also became the first pitcher to receive the award in back-to-back months since Josh Johnson in '06 (May and June).

Fernandez went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA (five earned runs in 39 innings) in six August starts. That ERA was the second lowest among qualifying rookie pitchers and the third lowest in the league overall. Only Rookie of the Month runner-up Alex Wood of the Braves (0.90) and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers (1.01) had lower ERAs in August.

Fernandez also held opposing hitters to a .158 batting average, the lowest opponents' batting average among qualifying Major League pitchers.

Fernandez opened the month by breaking his own franchise rookie record with 14 strikeouts against the Indians on Aug. 2. He previously set the franchise mark with 13 strikeouts in his final July start against the Pirates.

Fernandez struck out eight batters in each of his final three starts in August, and his 49 strikeouts in the month led the NL and were second in the Majors, only behind Yu Darvish (64).

The right-hander also won co-NL Player of the Week honors for the week of Aug. 19-25, during which he won consecutive starts against the Dodgers and Rockies, striking out 16 and allowing one earned run over 13 innings pitched in that span.