Yankees' Gardner garners AL weekly honors

Slowly but surely, the Yankees' slew of injured sluggers are making their way back into the lineup. One hitter who has avoided the injury bug continues to rake.

Outfielder Brett Gardner, who has played in each of New York's 63 games, earned American League Player of the Week honors Monday for the offensive blitz he put on the Indians and Mariners last week. In seven contests, Gardner batted .520 (13-for-25) with a .556 on-base percentage, five doubles, one home run, six RBIs and five runs scored.

Gardner notched a two-run single to break a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning of the Yankees' 7-4 win against Cleveland last Monday. On Wednesday, he socked a three-run homer in the Bronx Bombers' 6-4 triumph.

Gardner tallied seven hits over his last two games of the week. He clubbed a pair of doubles and a single in the Yankees' 3-1 win in Seattle on Saturday. A day later, he tied a season high with four hits. The 29-year-old has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven games and in 15 of his last 17 contests.

For the season, Gardner is hitting .284 with six homers, 27 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. His performance warranted him the award ahead of teammates CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera, who recorded a complete game and four saves, respectively; Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who hit .412 with three homers, and designated hitter David Ortiz, who collected five extra-base hits and 12 RBIs; and A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who swatted four homers.