Harrison Named June Pitcher of the Month

It could easily be argued that there was not a better pitcher in all of baseball in June than the Texas Rangers' Matt Harrison. On Monday, it was confirmed that there wasn't a better one — at least not in the American League.

Harrison picked up AL Pitcher of the Month honors for June after turning in a 5-0 mark with a 1.29 ERA in six June starts, including a complete-game shutout of the San Francisco Giants when the Rangers were right in the thick of the injury troubles and reeling before that series win set off the current hot streak.

Harrison is tied for the American League lead with 11 wins and has a 3.16 ERA on the season, which earned him his first trip to the All-Star Game. There's even been some talk that he could be in line to start the game for his manager, and AL manager Ron Washington, though that honor would most likely fall to Detroit Tigers ace and 2011 AL MVP Justin Verlander.

"It means a lot to go [to the All-Star Game] after all the stuff I've gone through the past couple of years," Harrison told reporters. "But this organization stuck with me and gave me the opportunity, and I'm thankful for that."

With the way the Rangers pitching staff has gone this year, Harrison has been the one always constant rock of the rotation, and the Rangers are thankful for that.

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