LOS ANGELES, United States – Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez and the Milwaukee Brewers’ MVP candidate Christian Yelich collected baseball’s Hank Aaron Awards as the top hitter in each league on Friday.

Martinez, in Boston’s lineup for game three as the Red Sox sought to build on their 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles dodgers, earned the American League award in his first season with the Red Sox.

The 31-year-old, who inked a five-year, $110 million contract with Boston, had his best statistical season, leading the major leagues with 130 runs-batted-in and 358 total bases. He was second in home runs with 43, and his .330 batting average was nearly 40 points higher than his career norm.

He took a post-season average of .333 with two home runs, two doubles and 13 runs-batted-in into game three against the Dodgers, and could become the first player to lead the majors in RBI’s in both the regular season and playoffs in the same year.

Yelich’s season ended with the Brewers’ loss to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

But his arrival in a trade with the Marlins fueled Milwaukee’s rise to the NL Central title.

With his average of .326, Yelich became the first Brewers player to win a batting title, and he was just two home runs and one RBI short of winning the first NL triple crown in 81 years.

Yelich became just the fifth player to hit for the cycle twice in the same season and the first to do so against the same team (Cincinnati).

The Hank Aaron award was established in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. It was voted on by fans via MLB.com and a panel of Hall of Fame players tabbed by Aaron to join him in deciding the prize.

p: wjg