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Greinke tabbed as top NL pitcher for August

Dodgers right-hander went 5-0 with 1.23 ERA in five starts during the month

For the second consecutive month, a Dodgers pitcher has taken home National League Pitcher of the Month honors.

One month after NL Cy Young Award favorite Clayton Kershaw claimed the honor for July, teammate Zack Greinke on Wednesday earned it for August. It was Greinke's second career monthly award.

Greinke, who also won an American League Pitcher of the Month Award in April 2009 as a member the Royals, went 5-0 in August, posting a 1.23 ERA in the process. The Dodgers righty racked up 30 strikeouts and eight walks over 36 2/3 innings while making a significant contribution to the Dodgers' Major League-best 2.07 ERA for the month.

Greinke kicked off August by outdueling Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 5 en route to a 3-2 Dodgers victory. He followed it up five days later by tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Rays before turning in a second straight scoreless outing on Aug. 16, when he limited the Phillies to just three hits over 7 1/3 innings of work.

Though he finally gave up another run in his Aug. 21 start against the Marlins, Greinke limited Miami to just one tally over eight frames while striking out seven and walking none. He put a cap on his undefeated month on Aug. 26 by coming within one out of a complete game against the Cubs. Greinke instead settled for allowing two runs over 8 2/3 innings and matching a season-high with nine strikeouts.

After starting the month of September with another victory on Sunday, Greinke has won 11 of his past 12 decisions and has a 14-3 overall record to go along with his 2.78 season ERA.

Paul Casella is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @paul_casella.
Read More: Los Angeles Dodgers, Zack Greinke