Evan Longoria, coming off a pair of series in Kansas City and Minnesota that he spent crushing opposing pitching, was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday.
With the Rays on the road, Longoria started off his week by notching six hits in three games against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, including three doubles. And when the Rays headed to Target Field to take on the Twins in a four-game-set, the third baseman mashed five home runs, homering at least once in each game, and drove in eight runs.
"For a team that probably was in need of a player like that the last 10 days or two weeks, he has been just unbelievable how he's carried the load," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said after Longoria capped his week with a two-homer game on Sunday.