Pedroia, Braun win top rookie awards

NEW YORK -- Ryan Braun won the NL Rookie of the Year award in one of the tightest votes, while Dustin Pedroia ran away with the AL honor Monday.

Braun, Milwaukee's brawny third baseman, edged Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki by two points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Pedroia, the little Boston second baseman with the big swing, easily topped Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young. Generously listed at 5 foot 9, and playing with a broken left hand down the stretch, he helped lead the Red Sox to the World Series title.

Braun got 17 of the 32 first-place votes and finished with 128 points. Tulowitzki received 15 first-place votes and had 126 points.

Called up from Class AAA in late May, Braun hit .324 with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs.

Braun's .634 slugging percentage led NL players and was the highest by a rookie in major league history. He did not have enough plate appearances, however, to qualify for the title.

His big offensive numbers were enough to overcome 26 errors, tied for most in the majors.

Tulowitzki led big league shortstops in fielding percentage and also set an NL rookie record for home runs by a shortstop (24), and batted .291 with 99 RBIs as the Rockies surged to the NL pennant.

Pedroia got 24 of the 28 first-place votes and finished with 132 points.

Pedroia hit .317 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs.