Music: {allcanada} Bautista named AL player of the month

Thursday, June 2, 2011

{allcanada} Bautista named AL player of the month

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NEW YORK -- Jose Bautista's monster May didn't go unnoticed.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger was voted as the American League's player of the month on Thursday after batting .360 (31-for-86) with four doubles, 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in 23 games.

Despite missing five games due to neck spasms, the outfielder led the A.L. in home runs for the fifth straight month dating back to July 2010.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to lead a league in home runs (outright or tied) for five consecutive months was Jimmie Foxx, when he led the A.L. in homers from June 1933 to April 1934.

Bautista was also the A.L player of the month for April.

He currently leads the majors with 20 home runs on the season and is tops in on-base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.791).

The National League player of the month for May was Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce.

In 28 games, Bruce had a major league-best 12 home runs and 33 RBIs, while leading the N.L. in runs scored (23), slugging percentage (.739) and extra-base hits (19).