San Diego — When Brad Hawpe hits home runs, his teammates don’t bother watching the arcing flyball. They watch Hawpe. He knows his swing, they figure, and certainly knows when a ball is gone. Two moonballs won games in the span of three days during the Rockies’ ride toward the playoffs, earning Hawpe National League Player of the Week honors today.
Hawpe went 8-for-13 in the sweep of the San Diego Padres, his 409-foot blast over the center-field fence securing Friday’s 2-1, 14-inning victory.
“We have seen him get hot like this before,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Hawpe’s month turned with a Wednesday night swing against the Dodgers. He was hitting .180 in September before his game-winning blast. He went off the rest of the week, posting 13 hits and a .600 on-base percentage.
Hawpe previously won Player of the Week honors on June 3. He and Matt Holliday have both won the award twice, and Troy Tulowitzki claimed it once this season.
Holliday and Jeff Francis were also nominated this past week.
