Royals’ Soria wins award as September’s Delivery Man of the Month

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

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Royals closer Joakim Soria reaped an individual reward Monday for his role in the club’s strong September by being selected as the DHL Delivery Man of the Month.

Soria was 1-0 with nine saves in September while not allowing a run in 10 1/3 innings over 10 appearances. The award is chosen by a panel in conjunction with Major League Baseball and seeks to recognize the game’s best reliever each month during the regular season.

The award caps a breakthrough season for Soria, 24, in his first full year as a closer. He was 2-3 with 42 saves — second in the American League — and had a 1.60 ERA in 63 games.

“It’s pretty nice,” he said, “but I never set goals. I just try to do my best every time I come on the mound. If I get good results, then thank God.”

In recognition of the award, DHL will donate $1,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City in Soria’s name. Soria is also one of 10 nominees for the DHL Delivery Man of the Year award. Online fan balloting is currently under way at www.mlb.com/dhl.

“He had a tremendous impact,” manager Trey Hillman said. “Just look at the statistics and the number of saves in comparison to the number of team wins.”

Posted on Mon, Oct. 06, 2008 10:15 PM

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