Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett has been named the National League Player of the Week.
↵Burnett took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday before giving up a single to Adrian Cardenas, the only hit he would allow. Then on Sunday, he struck out seven Reds and allowed two runs, missing his second straight complete game only when he walked two batters in the ninth.
↵Burnett's win over the Cubs was the more impressive, but his win over the Reds was much more crucial, as it gave the Pirates a win after they'd dropped the first two games of their series against the division leaders.
↵Burnett's recent contributions have been enormously important for the Pirates during a period in which the rest of their rotation has been uneven. Burnett has been nearly automatic, providing the Pirates with a giant boost every fifth day.
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