[Johan Santana], a 27-year-old Venezuelan, received all 28 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, easily outpacing runner-up Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees. [Complete voting, E7.] Santana's 2004 award was also won unanimously.

Santana won the AL's "Triple Crown of Pitching" in 2006, leading the league -- and the majors -- in wins (19, tied with Wang), ERA (2.77) and strikeouts (245). His role in helping the overachieving Twins win the AL Central crown has made him a legitimate candidate for the league's most valuable player award, which will be revealed on Tuesday. However, Santana yesterday endorsed teammate Justin Morneau for MVP.

In those three years, Santana went 55-19 with a 2.75 ERA and 748 strikeouts, topping the majors in all three categories and representing arguably the best three-year stretch by an AL pitcher since Boston's [Pedro Martinez] went 60-17 with a 2.25 ERA and 848 strikeouts from 1998 to 2000.