Mat Latos has a slow April and May, but picks up his game in June and never looks back, becoming what could be considered a second ace. He ended up leading the team in strikeouts with 185.
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Posted: 07/02/2012
CINCINNATI - Maybe the big trade the Reds and Padres pulled off before the season is working out in Cincinnati.
After an up-and-down start to the season, Reds pitcher Mat Latos has been in a groove as of late.
On Monday, the Reds pitcher was named the National League Player of the Week for the week ending on July 1.
Latos was 2-0 with two complete games last week. He struck out 13 and scattered four hits against the Milwaukee Brewers en route to a 3-1 victory on Monday June 25. He followed that performance with win over the Giants on Saturday in which he only allowed two hits in a 2-1 win for Cincinnati.
He also helped himself on the offensive side. The 24-year-old also had two hits against San Francisco, becoming only the third Reds pitcher since 1900 to collect at least two hits as a batter while recording at least 13 strikeouts, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Latos became the first Reds pitcher to record back-to-back complete games since Aaron Harang in 2006. He is now 7-2 on the year with a 4.42 ERA.
Robinson Cano was named the American League Player of the Week.
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