SEATTLE -- The Mariners reached the halfway mark of this shortened season Sunday on a high note, finishing off a three-game sweep of the Rangers with a 4-1 victory and again getting encouraging results from a couple of key rookies.\n\nCenter fielder
Dunn was knocked out of his last start against the Dodgers after two innings when he took a line drive to the ribs, but the 24-year-old rebounded with easily the best showing of his young career and now is 2-1 with a 5.57 ERA in five starts this season.\n\n“Great outing by Justin,” manager Scott Servais said. “I didn’t know quite what we were going to get, but his stuff was as good as we’ve seen in quite some time. That was a really nice bounce-back. And that’s three days in a row we’ve run 24-year-old starters out there and they all held their own. It’s great to see. These guys are continuing to learn and get better, and the confidence is growing. That’s what this year is all about.”
With that said, here are the Mariners first-half award winners:
**Most Valuable Player:** Kyle Lewis \nThe 25-year-old wins this one hands-down and would actually be in the running for an AL midseason MVP honor and a lock for the All-Star Game if there was one this year.\n\nLewis could have had three hits on Sunday, but Texas left fielder Nick Solak robbed him of extra bases with a nice over-the-shoulder catch in the fifth, and then he lined a shot off the pitcher’s leg that went right to shortstop Yadiel Rivera in his last at-bat.\n\n“Kyle is seeing the ball great,” Servais said. “It’s very easy. He’s not swinging hard, you can see it. His effort level is at a perfect spot right now, understanding where he’s at and the pitches he’s looking for. ... It’s some kind of fun to watch, just to see him mature and grow and the confidence. And it’s rubbing off on some other guys, too, which is also a bonus.”
**Cy Young Award:**
**Rookie of the Year (non-Lewis division):**
**Unsung Hero:**
**Comeback Player:**
**Best reliever:**
**Biggest surprise:**