Pence powers way to NL Player of Week Award

After a prolific performance at the plate over seven games last week, Giants outfielder Hunter Pence was named the National League Player of the Week.

Pence led the Majors with six home runs, 19 RBIs, a 1.103 slugging percentage and 32 total bases. He was also tied for the Major League lead with 13 hits and ranked second among NL hitters with eight runs scored. Pence hit .448 (13-for-29) with a .469 on-base percentage.

Pence tied what at the time was his career high with six RBIs on a 4-for-5 night on Tuesday, as the Giants lost to the Rockies. His RBI total was the most by a Giants player at AT&T Park since Jose Guillen drove in six on Sept. 19, 2010. Pence hit a three-run homer in the first inning, his 20th of the season, making him the seventh Giant to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in a season. He's the first since Barry Bonds (1998) to do it.

Pence also hit a solo homer on Thursday against the Dodgers, before going 2-for-4 with another solo home run on Friday. He hit his fourth career grand slam as part of a 3-for-5 afternoon on Saturday, setting a career high with seven RBIs in the Giants' 19-3 rout.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Pence was just the third Giants batter since 1958 to drive in seven runs in the first five innings of a game, joining Jeff Kent (July 24, 1988) and Jim Ray Hart (July 8, 1970).

The outfielder then capped his week with two more homers (and three RBIs) in a 4-3 victory on Sunday. It was his fourth straight game with a home run, improving his RBI streak to six games.

It's Pence's third career weekly honor, having won in 2007 and '10 (both with the Astros).

Pence's teammates Brandon Belt (.526 average, four runs, 10 hits, nine RBIs, .483 OPS) and Gregor Blanco (.526 average, four runs, 10 hits, .591 on-base percentage) were both recognized for their performances this week.