Wilyer Abreu has continued to lead the Boston Red Sox as they rapidly climb up the standings.
For the second time this season, Abreu captured the American League Player of the Week Award for his torrid play from August 3 to August 9. In the five games over that span, the 27-year-old right fielder slashed a monstrous .438/.522/1.063 with three home runs, nine RBI and a 285 wRC+.
This is also the second consecutive week that a member of the Red Sox won the award, as fellow outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela was the AL's recipient for July 27 to August 2.
In the National League, Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy won Player of the Week.
Wilyer Wills the Red Sox to Wins
Abreu had previously won AL Player of the Week for his heroics immediately after the All-Star break. In a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays from July 17 to July 19, the Red Sox slugger tallied five hits, with four of them leaving the yard, to lead Boston to a key four-game sweep.
This past week, Abreu provided more of the same production against the Chicago White Sox and Athletics. In a 14-2 beatdown of the South Siders on Tuesday, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and a pair of home runs. The next day, Abreu tallied two more hits, which included another homer in Boston's 4-0 win.
On Thursday, Abreu was mostly kept in check as he went 1-for-5. However, that one hit was one of the biggest in the entire game, as it was a game-tying RBI single with the Red Sox down to their final strike; Boston eventually won a wild 12-11, 13-inning affair to complete their sweep of the White Sox and extend their winning streak to eight games.
Abreu resumed his hot hitting in Friday's series opener against the Athletics with a double and a home run. He drove in three of Boston's 13 runs in a blowout that made it nine straight wins. Unfortunately, the Red Sox's winning streak ended the next day with Abreu out of the lineup, and he was held hitless on Sunday as the A's took the series.
Regardless of the quiet game to end the week, Abreu's nine RBI were the most in the American League across those seven days. He additionally reached base at least once in each game, drawing five walks while striking out just twice.
Abreu's hot hitting has mirrored the Red Sox's winning ways. Prior to losing back-to-back games against the Athletics this weekend, they went an astounding 27-3 over their previous 30 games. Right in the middle of that was Abreu, who clubbed seven doubles and 10 home runs with an .881 OPS over that span.
Abreu and the Red Sox will look to continue their momentum tonight as they begin a four-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays to kick off a seven-game road trip.
