Mon Apr 14 14:19:33 2008

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Ibanez, Bannister earn AL honors

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - Seattle Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez and Kansas City Royals pitcher Brian Bannister were named co-Players of the Week in the American League for the period ending April 13.

Ibanez hit .370 with four home runs and 11 runs batted in during the week. The 35-year-old added three doubles, a triple and seven runs scored to take home his fourth career weekly award.

Bannister went 2-0 with a sterling 1.29 earned run average in two starts for the Royals. The 27-year-old right-hander fanned nine and walked just four in 14 innings of work. On the season, Bannister is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA for the 7-5 Royals.

Others considered for this week's award included the Angels' Casey Kotchman, who batted .455 with two homers and five runs batted in; Toronto's Vernon Wells, who hit .345 with seven runs batted in; and Chicago pitcher Javier Vazquez, who was 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 17 strikeouts.