NEW YORK - Five days after entering his name in
baseball's all-time record books, rookie Anibal Sanchez on
Monday was named the National League Player of the Week.
Sanchez pitched a no-hitter last Wednesday to lead the Florida
Marlins to a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was
the majors' first no-hitter since Randy Johnson tossed a perfect
game on May 18, 2004.
Sanchez, 22, allowed four walks and struck out six in his
amazing performance. He became the fourth player in Marlins
history to accomplish the feat, joining Al Leiter, Kevin Brown
and A.J. Burnett. He also joined Wilson Alvarez as the only
Venezuelan-born players to pitch a no-hitter.
Sanchez has been instrumental in Florida's late-season push
towards the playoffs, going 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA in 11 outings
since the All-Star break. The righthander is 7-2 with a 2.89 in
14 appearances - 13 starts - this season.
Among numerous other nominees were Sanchez's teammate Dontrelle
Willis, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Houston's
Lance Berkman, Arizona's Brandon Webb and Washington's Alfonso
Soriano.