NEW YORK (TICKER) — First baseman Rafael Palmeiro and catcher Ivan Rodriguez have led the Texas Rangers to first place in the American League West and today were named AL Co-Players of the Month for August.
The dynamic duo led the AL in nearly every offensive category during the month as Texas posted an 18-12 record. The Rangers ended August with a 79-54 record and a 6 1/2-game lead over Oakland in the AL West.
Palmeiro led the league and set a pair of club records by collecting 15 home runs and 39 RBI during the month, also posting an AL-best .782 slugging percentage. He hit .318, drew 14 walks and scored 25 runs.
Rodriguez led the AL with 45 hits and 29 runs scored in August. He hit .349 with 12 homers and 28 RBI while notching a .667 slugging percentage. The seven-time All-Star also stole three bases and became the first catcher in major league history to steal 20 bases and hit 20 homers in one season.
Both Palmeiro and Rodriguez could be considered candidates for the AL Most Valuable Player award. Palmeiro is second in the league with 40 homers and 127 RBI, and stands fifth with a .337 average. Rodriguez ranks seventh in the AL with 162 hits, 10th in batting at .327, tied for 10th with 30 homers and tied for 11th with 96 runs.
First basemen Carlos Delgado of Toronto and Jason Giambi of Oakland also were