On the Mets beat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2006
ALL-STARS BELTRAN, UTLEY NAMED CO-WINNERS OF THE BANK OF AMERICA
PRESENTS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran have been named co-winners of the Bank of America Presents the National League Player of the Week for July 24-30, 2006. Bank of America, the Official Bank of MajorLeague Baseball, is the presenting sponsor of the National League and American League Player of the Week Awards, which reflect Bank of America’s long-standing tradition of promoting and recognizing higher standards of accomplishment.

Utley, who extended his hitting streak to 32 games on Monday afternoon, led the National League with 34 total bases, 13 runs and 15 hits and ranked second with 11 RBI last week. Over his eight games played during the week, Utley hit two doubles, a triple and had a .441batting average, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .513 on-base percentage. Utley’s streak is the second longest in club history, trailing only that of double play partner Jimmy Rollins, whose 38-game streak extended into the 2006 season. At 32 games, Utley’s streak is the seventh longest since Joe DiMaggio’s record-setting 56-game campaign in 1941.

Beltran led the league with 15 RBI and tied for the lead with five home runs. In six games, Beltran batted .385, scored seven runs and recorded a 1.000 slugging percentage, a .433 on-base percentage, 26 total bases, 10 hits and one double for the week. Beltran became the ninth player in baseball history to hit three grand slams in a single month, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Other nominees this past week included Craig Biggio (.370, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Mike Lamb (.421, 3 RBI) and Luke Scott (.417, 6 RBI) of the Astros; Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn (.550, 3 2B, 5 RBI) and Scott Hatteberg (.429, 3 2B, 2 RBI); Andre Ethier (.409, 4 HR, 7 RBI), Rafael Furcal (.500, 2 HR) and Russell Martin (.471, 2 2B, 7 RBI) of the Dodgers; Paul Lo Duca (.455, 10 H) and Orlando Hernandez (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO) of the Mets; Florida’s Josh Willingham (.381, 4 HR, 8 RBI) and Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 0.00 ERA); Pittsburgh teammates Ronny Paulino (.421, 8 H, 3 RBI), Jeromy Burnitz (.400, 1.300 SLG, 3 HR) and Kip Wells (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SO); Marcus Giles (.370, 10 H) of the Braves; Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano (2-0, 4.85 ERA, 11 SO) and Aramis Ramirez (.435, 10 H, 2 HR); Bill Hall (.409, 4 HR, 10 RBI) of the Brewers; Ryan Howard (.304, 4 HR, 9 RBI) of the Phillies; Colorado’s Jeff Francis (1-1, 1.13 ERA, 1 SHO), Jason Jennings (1-1, 1.13 ERA, 1 CG) and Byung-Hyung Kim (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO); Arizona’s Tony Peña (3-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 G); and Eliezer Alfonzo (.375, 3 HR, 6 RBI) of the Giants.