There were 6,776 strikeouts and 6,640 hits in June, the Elias Sports Bureau said Sunday. That leaves the season totals at 21,090 strikeouts and 20,671 hits about halfway through the season.
Strikeouts had topped hits in a full month for the first time in April, when then there were 6,656 strikeouts and 6,360 hits. The previous low differential was in April 2017, when there were 138 more hits than strikeouts.
There were 7,033 hits and 6,971 strikeouts in May.
Strikeouts per game averaged 16.9 in June, up from 16.75 in May but down from 17.5 in April, which was a record for a full calendar month. Strikeouts have set a record for 10 consecutive seasons, and this year’s rate projects to 41,464. That would shatter last year’s mark of 40,104; the total was 32 http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/aaron-rodgers-jersey ,884 in 2008.
There have been 2,822 home runs in 1,236 games, an average of 2.26. That represents a drop from 2.52 last year through June, when there were 3,024 in 1,199 games.
The average climbed from 1.90 before the 2015 All-Star break to 2.17 in the second half that year, then rose to 2.31 in 2016 and a record 2.51 last season.
Thus far this season, 32 percent of 94,241 plate appearances ended without a batted ball in play: 21,090 strikeouts, 8,081 walks, 952 hit batters and 23 catcher’s interference calls.
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Elvis Andrus is back in the Texas lineup after his first trip to the disabled list.
Andrus, a two-time All-Star for the Rangers, was activated Monday for the series opener against the Kansas City Royals. He missed 59 games after a pitch by Kenyan Middleton broke his right elbow in an April 11 game against the Los Angeles Angels.
He had been inactive for only three of the Rangers’ 1,515 games since making his debut on opening day in 2009. He was suspended for a 2016 game and was on the paternity list for two games in 2017.
”He’s never gone through this Marquis Haynes Color Rush Jersey ,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ”He’s never not played in 10 years. This is the first time.”
Texas went 25-34 without Andrus, who hit .327 with two home runs and five RBIs in 14 games before the injury.
”A guy that has played 10 consecutive years you don’t replace,” Banister said. ”You miss everything he does and what he was able to do. He was our three-hole hitter and one of the better centerpieces of the offense. He did a lot of things for us offensively. Obviously, he was one of the leaders with (Adrian) Beltre on defense.”
Andrus went 1-for-24 with three walks in a seven-game rehab assignment in the minors.
Jurickson Profar, who had four RBIs Sunday in the victory over Colorado, started 56 games at shortstop in Andrus’ absence. He started at second on Monday against the Royals, will play third on Tuesday and be the designated hitter Wednesday.
”He played very well,” Banister said. ”He became one of the better hitters in our lineup. I thought he progressively got better defensively.”
He said the plan is to play Rougned Odor, Profar and Beltre five games a week.
In other roster moves, the Rangers recalled right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock, optioned catcher Jose Trevino to Double-A Frisco and designated for assignment right-hander Dick McGuire, who was claimed off waivers last week from Toronto.
Rookie utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa will become the backup catcher. He will make his first major league start behind the plate Wednesday. He has started at third base, second base and shortstop.
”He’s earned the right to be here and to do it here,” Banister said.