The Brewers enjoyed their finest month all season in August (21-7), thanks largely to an unstoppable CC Sabathia. No other qualified National League starter threw more innings (48 1/3), won more games (5-0) or allowed fewer runs per nine innings (1.12 ERA) than the big lefty. Three of his five wins were complete games, an incredible feat that included a one-hit, 11-strikeout gem in Pittsburgh to close out August. The second complete game came on Aug. 18 vs. Houston, after a Milwaukee loss, and the first fell on Aug. 8 vs. Washington, which helped continue an eight-game winning streak for Milwaukee. Sabathia averaged eight innings in six August starts, adding to his ace credentials.

The Mets enjoyed an incredible turnaround in July, thanks largely to the veteran leadership of Carlos Delgado. The hard-hitting first baseman batted .350 during the club's 10-game winning streak, capped off by a ninth-inning, game-winning RBI single on July 17 in Cincinnati. The Reds were again punished for pitching to Delgado on July 20, when he plated the tying run in a 7-5 victory. Topping off a banner month, Delgado saved his finest moment for the arch-rival Phillies on July 24, delivering a two-run double to break a 1-1 tie and, ultimately, put the Mets alone in first place.

With the Rays hit by numerous injuries, Pena picked up the slack for Tampa Bay's offense with several key hits. None more memorable than on Aug. 6, when he blasted a three-run, walk-off homer vs. Cleveland, putting the finishing touches on a six-run ninth inning for Tampa Bay. Pena also contributed without even swinging on Aug. 3 with a walk-off walk in the 10th inning vs. Detroit. Of his 29 August RBIs -- good for third in the Majors -- nine came from game-winning hits, including a solo homer against the Tigers on Aug. 1 and a two-run single to break open 3-3 tie with the White Sox for good.

The veteran outfielder played the role of spoiler to a tee. Look no further than Aug. 7, when he delivered a walk-off solo homer against the first-place Rays, or from Aug. 2-6, when he hammered home 15 runs in four games, including a six-RBI performance on Aug. 4 that downed the high-flying Twins, 11-6, and a five-RBI showing the following day that again defeated the Twins, 8-7. For late-game fireworks, Ibanez contributed a 10th-inning, game-winning RBI single Aug. 30 in Cleveland, and provided a go-ahead solo homer Aug. 13 in the ninth inning of a 10-7 win over the Angels. All told, Ibanez put forth a .396 average and 31 RBIs, both good for second among everyday American League hitters.

Brad Hawpe stumbled during most of the first half, but summer brought redemption for the sweet-swinging outfielder. Hawpe’s timely hitting helped lead the Rockies to their second straight month with a winning record. This was especially true from Aug. 10-20, during which time the Rockies slugger produced 15 of his 23 August RBIs. That includes two game-winning two-run homers, one on Aug. 13 vs. the division-rival D-backs, and the other on Aug. 15 vs. the Nationals. But Hawpe’s finest performance came on Aug. 20, when he single-handedly defeated the Dodgers with a game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning and a game-winning RBI single in the ninth.

Lee put Cleveland back on the map in August, winning all five of his starts in convincing fashion and anchoring his team to an 18-10 record. It was no cakewalk, either. Two of his victories came against first-place clubs -- the Rays on Aug. 4 and the Angels in a complete game on Aug. 15 -- without breaking much of a sweat. The Indians ace also overcame tough road hurdles in Detroit, Tampa Bay and Toronto, where he tossed eight scoreless innings, and led his team to a 10-game winning streak from Aug. 17-27. Lee lasted at least seven innings in every outing and finished August sporting a sizzling 1.86 ERA.