Ryan Zimmerman named National League co-Player of the Week

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman today was named the National League Co-Player of the Week. Major League Baseball made the announcement this afternoon on MLB Network. Zimmerman, 26, hit .500 (12-for-24) with two doubles, three home runs, eight RBIs, one walk and five runs scored on the week to earn citation. Zimmerman's efforts helped the Nationals go 4-2 on the week and post series victories over the Reds and Phillies. In Friday's home win, Zimmerman hit a game-ending grand slam (actually at 12:25 a.m. Saturday thanks to a lengthy rain delay) to cap a six-run ninth inning and render a stunning 8-4 victory over the Phillies. Since making his big league debut in Sept. 2005, Zimmerman's eight game-ending home runs are the most in MLB. Only Andre Ethier and David Ortiz have as many as six. He is also the first player in MLB history to amass as many as eight game-ending home runs in the first seven seasons of a career. Two days later, on Sunday versus Philadelphia, Zimmerman scored the game-winning run in the 10th after legging out a double to begin the inning. The NL Player of the Week award is the second of Zimmerman's career. He shared the award with (then) Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb for the period of July 30-Aug. 5, 2007. Zimmerman's NL Player of the Week citation is the seventh bestowed upon a National. In addition to Zimmerman's two awards, right-hander Stephen Strasburg (period ending June 13, 2010), outfielder Josh Willingham (Aug. 2, 2009), shortstop Cristian Guzman (Aug. 31, 2008), utilityman Willie Harris (July 20, 2007) and first baseman Nick Johnson (June 6, 2005) earned NL Player of the Week hardware. San Diego Padres catcher Nick Hundley (.500, eight extra-base hits, four RBIs in seven games) will share this week's award with Zimmerman.