By Danny Moran
CSNChicago.com
Anthony Rizzo has been voted the National League Rookie of the Month for July, giving Cubs' newest star his third monthly award this season.
Rizzo, who was called up to the Chicago Cubs' roster on June 26, also won back-to-back player of the month awards for the months of April and May as a member of the triple-A Iowa Cubs.
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Rizzo hit .330, along with seven home runs and 17 RBIs during July, when the Cubs went 15-10. Rizzo's OPS was .942, a percentage point better than Milwaukee Brewer slugger Ryan Braun during that period.
The month was capped off with his first career walk-off home run to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2, in the 10th inning of their game on July 29.
That game-winner may have been just what was needed for him to knock off some stiff competition for the monthly award. Other contenders were Brewers starter Michael Fiers, who had a 1.01 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 26 innings; Cincinnati Reds utilityman Todd Frazier, who hit .306, five home runs and 15 RBIs; Colorado Rockies shortstop Josh Rutledge, who hit.381, with three home runs, 11 RBIs and had a 1.077 OPS; and New York Mets outfielder-second baseman Jordany Valdespin, who hit .347, with five home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1.026 OPS.