Braves pitcher named NL Player of Week

Vazquez went 2-0 in two starts last week, with a 1.13 earned-run average and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings. On Sept. 8, he pitched seven shutout innings and also had two hits at the plate. On Sept. 13, Vazquez went the distance in a 9-2 victory St. Louis to help the Braves sweep the NL Central leaders.

Vazquez had 15 straight innings without allowing a run before yielding a pair of runs in the ninth inning Sunday.

It is Vazquez's second career weekly award and first in the National League. He also won it with the Chicago White Sox in August 2008.

Vazquez has a 13-9 record this season with a career-best 3.01 ERA in 29 starts. In 197 1/3 innings this season, he has 216 strikeouts -- second in the majors.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.