Teixeira's offensive tear earns him AL Player of Week nod

Mark Teixeira is on a tear, and the baseball world has taken notice. Teixeira, the Yankees' first baseman, was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday for a performance that saw him hit .333 (8-for-24) with five home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored over his past seven games.

Teixeira, who has won the award on five previous occasions, led all Major League hitters in slugging percentage (1.000) last week. He also ranked first among AL hitters in RBIs, and he tied for first in total bases (24) and for second among his AL peers in runs scored.

The switch-hitter logged four RBIs and his 38th career multihomer game Friday, and he entered Monday leading all Major League hitters in at-bats per home run (7.8). Teixeira has eight homers in April, his personal best for the opening month and the most of any month since he hit nine in June 2011.

The Yankees rode Teixeira's torrid week to a 5-2 record, which enabled them to pull into a tie with the Rays for the top spot in the AL East.

Teixeira was chosen over a list of noteworthy performers that included Hanley Ramirez of the Red Sox, who batted .391 with three homers. Orioles infielder Jimmy Paredes (.400, three homers) was also considered, as were the Angels' Kole Calhoun (.400, two home runs), the Indians' Brandon Moss (.400, nine RBIs), the Rays' Chris Archer (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 16 strikeouts) and the Tigers' Alfredo Simon (2-0, 1.29 ERA, 10 strikeouts).