 Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending July 20th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network. After representing the Cubs in Minnesota in the 2014 Midsummer Classic last week, Rizzo led the Majors last weekend with three home runs, 14 total bases and a 1.273 slugging percentage. The 24-year-old was also tied for third in the N.L. with four RBI. He hit .455 (5-for-11) during the week and scored five runs while posting a .500 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitting slugger went 2-for-4 in his first contest after the All-Star break, clubbing a pair of homers and collecting three RBI in a losing effort as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the Cubs, 5-4, in Friday's series-opener at Chase Field. It was his second multi-homer game of the season (also May 31st at Milwaukee) and the sixth of his career. The Florida native collected a hit in three at-bats during Saturday's 9-3 loss to the D-backs. In Sunday's finale, Rizzo posted his second multi-hit performance of the series, going 2-for-4 with his 23rd homer of the season in a 3-2 loss. The 23 long balls already matches his single-season career best (2013), and Rizzo is currently tied with Giancarlo Stanton for the most homers in the N.L. this season. Earlier this month, Rizzo became just the second left-handed Cubs hitter to reach the 20-homer threshold before the All-Star break (also Rick Monday in 1973 and Hall of Famer Billy Williams in 1970 and 1972). This is his first career Player of the Week Award and the first by a Cubs hitter since Starlin Castro (week ending August 7, 2011). Other noteworthy performances last week included Philadelphia's Grady Sizemore (.583, 7 H, .667 SLG, .615 OBP); Miami's Stanton (.300, 2 HR, 1.000 SLG); Pittsburgh's Neil Walker (.583, 5 R, 7 H, HR, .917 SLG, .615 OBP) and Mark Melancon (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SV, 3.0 IP, 3 SO); and Arizona's Addison Reed (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2 SO). In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Anthony Rizzo will be awarded a watch, courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
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