Phillies' Ryan Howard NL Player of Week

Howard, 29, led the major leagues last week with five home runs and had two-multi-homer games. He had 12 RBI, 28 total bases and a 1.000 slugging percentage in the seven-day period.

Howard hit a game-winning three-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Phillies a 4-1 decision over Pittsburgh last Wednesday. He hit two solo shots to help Philadelphia beat Atlanta Friday -- his fifth such game of 2009 and the 22nd time in his career he's homered more than once in a game.

It was the fifth career weekly award for the sixth-year pro, and his second this season.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.