New York, NY

Major League Baseball honored players who have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League, with the Red Sox and Dodgers receiving a trio of awards apiece.

Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, one of three Boston players recognized with the plum, as voted by managers and coaches in each league, won his third Gold Glove.

Boston's Dustin Pedroia captured his second Gold Glove, while Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was one of the first-time winners in the AL.

Ellsbury, whose impressive statistical improvements enabled him to become the first Red Sox outfielder to win the Gold Glove Award since 1990 when Ellis Burks was honored for his defensive performance, is also one of nine first-timers overall to win this year's award.

Other first-time winners in the AL squad were Baltimore's Nick Markakis in the outfield, Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters, the Angels' Erick Aybar at shortstop, and Kansas City's left fielder Alex Gordon.

White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, who was the lone AL holdover, won for the third straight year. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre also won for the third time, after taking home the award in '07 and '08.

Meanwhile, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, led the NL squad and all the award winners with his fourth defensive honor. It marked the first time that an NL catcher won in four straight years since Charles Johnson from 1995-98.

The Dodgers outfield duo of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier each won the award, with Kemp capturing his second and Ethier his first.

It marked the first time that a pair of outfield teammates have won in the NL since the Braves' Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur were recognized in 2007, and the first time Dodgers outfielders to win Gold Gloves in the same season.

Los Angeles' pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the front-runner for the Cy Young Award, was the third Dodger to win. He is also one of the first-time winner in the NL.

Apart from Ethier and Kershaw, other first-time players who won the award were Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Diamondbacks left fielder Gerardo Parra.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joined Molina as the NL holdovers, with Phillips winning for the third time in four years, while Tulowitzki garnered his second.

Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco also won his third Gold Glove.

Copyright © 2011 AHN - All Rights Reserved