Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez wins Spahn Award

The award, presented by the Bricktown Rotary Club of Oklahoma City and the Jim Thorpe Association, is based a pitcher's0 wins, strikeouts and earned run average. It is named for Oklahoman and national Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, whose 363 career victories are the most for a left-handed pitcher.

Gonzalez was 21-8 with 207 strikeouts and 2.89 ERA in 199.1 innings this season. He is a two-time All-Star and a key component to the Nationals' first division title since moving to Washington, D.C. Washington will make its first post-season appearance in the majors since 1933.

“I'm honored to even be mentioned in the same breath as Warren Spahn and the past winners of this award. I truly am humbled by this recognition,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

This year's race for the Spahn Award was the closest in the history of the award with the difference being Gonzalez's one additional win over Tampa Bay's David Price. Gonzalez and Price tied for the award, but Gonzalez won on a tiebreaker. Gonzalez's 21 victories were one more than Price.