Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer was named the American League pitcher of the month and AL rookie of the month for July, Major League Baseball announced Monday. Archer, 24, was 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA in five July starts. He had 22 strikeouts with two shutouts and seven walks in 37 innings during the month. Among major league rookies, Archer was first in wins and shutouts, and he led all rookies with a minimum of 27 innings pitched in ERA. Archer’s honors mark the sixth time since the rookie of the month award was introduced in 2001 that a player or pitcher of the month award-winner has earned rookie honors in the same month. Others to achieve the feat include the Florida Marlins' Dontrelle Willis (June 2003), Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun (July 2007), Rays' Jeremy Hellickson (May 2011), Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout (July 2012) and Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (July 2013). Archer is 6-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 12 starts this season. He is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
