NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Angels could have crumbled when pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident in April, overcome by grief and sadness.

Mike Scioscia kept them moving forward.

"There wasn't one defining moment," he said. "I think as the season started to evolve guys found that sense of purpose to play baseball again and they played it at a very, very high level."

For his deft touch during a trying season, Scioscia won the AL Manager of the Year award yesterday for the second time. Jim Tracy of Colorado was selected for the NL honor.

Tracy became the second manager to win the award after taking over during the season, joining Jack McKeon for Florida in 2003. Less than an hour after the award was announced, the Rockies said Tracy had been rewarded with a three-year contract.

"A new contract is extremely exciting, Tracy said. "But what is more intriguing for me is what is still out there for our ballclub."

Tracy received 29 first-place votes and two seconds for 151 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Scioscia got 15 first-place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 106 points.

The Rockies promoted Tracy from bench coach after Clint Hurdle was fired in late May and won the wild-card race. Scioscia and the Angels won their fifth AL West title in six years.

Ron Gardenhire was second in the AL voting, while Tony La Russa of the Cardinals was second in the NL.