Baseball Roundtable

It’s August 1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s s July Wrap Up – a look at July statistics and stories that caught BB Roundtable’s eye; leader boards for the month and Year-to-Date: BBRT’s Players and Pitchers of the Month; the monthly Trot Index.

Here’s a hint at the kind of things you’ll read about – if you make it to the end of this post.

• A pitcher launching a Grand Slam homer for his first MLB hit:
• A “Cycle” and an “Immaculate Inning” – not in the same game.
• A new record for wild pitches in an extra inning.
• A veteran player going yard in seven straight games.
• A team out-homering the opposition 7-0 – and still losing.
• The first-ever play to hit his first, second and third MLB home runs in the same game.
• Despite the DH, the eight lowest team batting averages for July being posted by AL teams.
• The Yankees, uncharacteristically last in July home runs, but first in stolen bases.

For all this and more, read on.

Baseball Roundtable Pitchers and Players of the Month – July 2021

National League Player of the Month – Joey Votto, 1B, Reds

Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Reds’ 1B Joey Vott0 put up a .326-11-25 month, leading MLB in home runs and tying for the National League in RBI. The 37-year-old,  six-time All Star finished especially  strong – in seven games from July 24 through July 30, he hit .485, with 10 runs scored and  15 RBI.  He also homered in all seven games (eight homers in all) – one game short of the MLB record for consecutive games with a home run. He failed to go deep on July 31. His slugging percentage during the hot streak was a lofty 1.423.

Honorable Mentions: A pair of third baseman also deserved consideration. The Padres’ Manny Machado went .360-8-25, tying for the NL’s most RBI in the month.  Machado’s 24 July runs scored also led MLB. Machado hit safely in 20 of 24 games played in July, with nine multi-hit contests.  Braves’ 3B Austin Riley also had a solid month at .312-9-25, tying for the NL lead in RBI and finishing behind only Votto and the Mets’ Pete Alonso in home runs. The 24-year-old ended the month on a ten-game hitting streak. Finally, a shout out to Braves’ veteran 1B Freddie Freeman, whose .374 July average (six homers, 15 RBI) led all National Leaguers with at least 75 July at bats.

National League Pitcher of the Month – Walker Buehler, Dodgers

Walker Buehler went 3-0 in five July starts, pitching to a 1.67 earned run average and fanning 38 batters, while walking just nine (in 32 1/3 innings. Buehler’s ERA was the second-lowest  among NL pitchers with at least 20 July innings. His final two July starts were against the rival Giants. In those two key games, Walker gave up just one run in 14 1/3 innings, fanning 17 and earning one win (one no decision). Buehler finished July with an 11-1, 2.19 record on the season.

Honorable Mentions: The Brewers’ Corbin Burnes earned a look with a 3-0 July record, a 2.30 ERA and 37 strikeouts (just six walks) in 31 1/3 innings; as did the Reds’ Luis Castillo (2-0, 2.15 in six starts, with 41 strikeouts in 37 2/3 frames.  I also have to put in a word for Mets’ rookie Tylor Megill, who seems to have taken up Jacob deGrom’s role as the NL’s hard-luck pitcher. Megill’s 1.04 July ERA was the lowest among MLB pitchers with at least 20 July innings, but he got only one win (no losses) for his efforts.  In five starts, he never gave up more than one run and fanned 27 batters (seven walks) in 26 innings.

American League Player of the Month – Shohei Ohtani, P/DH, Angels

Photo: Scott U, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ohtani started July off on a roll. On July 2, batting second against the Orioles, he went two-for-four with two home runs, three runs scored, three RBI and one walk. Four days  later, he pitched seven innings of five-hit, two-run ball to earn a win over the Red Sox.  Really, what can you say about a player who tops his league in July home runs (9 – tied) and finishes in the AL July top ten in the league in RBI (19), runs scored (17) and stolen bases (4) – and also puts up a 2-0. 1.35 record, in three starts.  Ohtani hit safely in 17 of 23 games played in July. While Ohtani’s .278 July batting average wasn’t flashy, pretty much everything else he did was.

Honorable Mentions:  Twins’ 2B Jorge Polanco had an all-around solid month at .327-6-20 and his 34 hits in 26 July games were second only to the month’s other Honorable Mention – Angels’ 2B David Fletcher. Fletcher’s 37 hits (in 24 games) were the most for any MLB player in July. His July stat line was .349-2-14.

American League Pitcher of the Month – Jameson Taillon, Yankees

Taillon was one of only two pitchers to log four wins in July – going 4-0, 1.16 for the Yankees in five starts  His ERA was the third-lowed among MLB pitchers with at least 20 July innings. Taillon’s July came as a bit a surprise, he came into the month with a 3-4, 4.93 record. In five July starts he gave up just four earned runs  in 31 innings, holding hitters to a .182 average.

Honorable Mentions: Lance Lynn continued his solid year for the White Sox – going 3-1, 2.10 in five July starts. Matt Harvey deserves mention for going 3-1, 2.45 in four starts for the struggling Orioles. After giving up six earned runs in his first start of the month, Harvey threw 18 1/3 scoreless frames in his next three starts. The Angels’ Alex Cobb went 2-0, 1.09 in four July starts (although his opponents were the Orioles, Twins and Mariners.)

Surprise Player of the Month – Eric Haase, C, Tigers

Eric Haase (who still has rookie status) came into the 2012 season with a .122 average (one home run, six RBI) in 26 MLB games over three seasons.  He showed a bit of what he is capable of by going .234-9-15 through June of this season.  Then, in July, he surprised a lot of people, Baseball Roundtable included. He started the month with a three-hit, two-homer, six-RBI game on July 3 (against the division-leading White Sox). He went on to lead  MLB in July RBI with 29 (in just 23 games) and tie for the most July homers  in the AL (9).  His hit .265 for the month and scored 17 runs.

____________________________________________

TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through July 2021, 36.9 percent of the MLB season’s 116,948 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (23.6%); walks (8.8%); home runs (3.2%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.

__________________________________

If the season ended July 31, your post-season teams would be:

National League: Mets; Brewers; Giants. Wild Cards: Dodgers, Padres.

American League: Rays; White Sox; Astros.  Wild Cards: Red Sox, A’s.

The Rays and Astros had the best record in July, both at 16-8.  The Rays moved from three games behind the Red Sox in the AL East at the end of June to 1/2-game lead; while the Astros extended their lead in the West from a slim 1/2-game over the A’s to 5 1/2.  The Rays played solid all-around ball, scoring the third-most July runs in the AL and putting up the second-best team ERA – despite having only one player with more than 15 RBI and  no starter with more than two July wins.  The Astros had the AL’s fifth-best ERA and fifth-most runs scored. Key contributors were 2B Jose Altuve (.260-8-22, with 21 runs scored); RF Kyle Tucker (.291-7-17); starter Lance McCullers (3-1, 3.86) and Ryan Pressly (six saves in six opportunities).

Over in the NL, the Reds made a big splash with a 16-10 record, while the Giants were at 15-10. The Reds jumped from fourth place in the Central to second (slipping by the Cardinals and Cubs).  They still, however, trail the Brewers (who went 14-10 for the month) by seven games. The Reds success may be a little more surprising, as they had the NL ‘s sixth-best ERA  and eighth-most runs scored. However, they had the NL’s leading home run hitter (11)  and RBI guy (25 ) in Joey Votto; got a nice .319-4-12. 20-run month from 2B Jonathon India – and got a 2-0, 2.15 month from Luis Castillo; 2-0, 2.51 from Wade Miley and seven saves from Heath Embree. The Giants’ 120 runs scored were in the middle of the NL pack, but their 3.38 ERA trailed only the Dodgers (3.2) and Brewers (3.33).Jake McGee gave the Giants seven saves and a 0.00 ERA for the month, while Alex Wood went 3-0, 3.62.

–——Team Statistical Leaders For  July———

RUNS SCORED

National League – Dodgers (145); Nationals (135); Phillies (130)

American League – Tigers (147); White Sox (133); Rays (131)

No one scored fewer runs in July than the Rangers, who plated just 76 tallies.

AVERAGE

National League – Nationals (.275); Mets (.265); Dodgers(.263)

American League – Tigers (.264); Blue Jays (.261); Angels (.258)

The lowest July team average belonged to the Rangers at .198. Lowest in the NL were the Rockies at .240.

Notably, the eight lowest July averages were posted by American League teams.

HOME RUNS

National League – Dodgers (42); Phillies (40); Mets (38); Phillies (38)

American League –  Blue Jays (40); Tigers (37); Twins (37)

The Yankees had July’s fewest long balls at 23 – welcome Joey Gallo.

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Marlins (24); Padres (17); Brewers (17)

American League – Yankees (18); Indians (15); A’s (14)

The  Red Sox stole the fewest bases in July – just two (in six attempts).

WALKS DRAWN

National League –  Phillies (111; Brewers (97); Giants (95)

American League – Twins (95); Yankees (92); Mariners (89)

The Brewers led MLB in July on-base percentage at .349.  The Blue Jays led I slugging percentage at .476.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (248); Marlins (237); Dodgers (235)

American League – Indians (2227); Twins (22); Mariners (.222)

Blue Jays’ batters fanned the fewest times in July – 167.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League –  Brewers (2.56); Dodgers (3.30); Braves (3.59)

American League – A’s (2.98); Rays (3.58); Angels (3.75)

Eight teams had ERA’s over 5.00 in July: Nationals (5.94); Pirates (5.65); Orioles (5.35); Diamondbacks (5.31); Rangers (5.29); Indians (5.25); Phillies (5.13); Royals (5.02); Of these, only the Phillies posted a winning record for the month – at 14-12.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (237); Mets (235); Dodgers (233)

American League – White Sox (254); Astros (235); Yankees (235)

The Yankees  had the highest strikeouts per nine innings in June  at 10.68. The Giants  led the NL at 9.41.  Thirteen teams averaged more than a strikeout per inning for the month.

SAVES

National League – Reds (10); Giants (9); Mets (8)

American League – Red  Sox (8); Mariners (8); five with seven

The Brewers, despite racking up 14 wins in July, had just one save in six opportunities.

________________________________________________

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for July ——––

AVERAGE (75 June  at bats minimum)

National League – Kyle Farmer. Reds (.395); Freddie Freeman, Braves (.375); Manny Machado (.360)

American League –  David Fletcher, Angels (.349); Bo Bichette,  Blue Jays (.337); Jorge Polanco , Twins (.327)

The lowest July  average (among players with at least 75 at bats) belonged to the Phillies’ SS Didi Gregorius and Twins’ SS Andrelton Simmons, who each went 13-for-80 (.163).

HOME RUNS

National League – Joey Votto, Reds (11); Pete Alonso, Mets  (10); Austin Riley, Braves (9); Juan Soto, Nationals (9)

American League –  Franmil Reyes, Indians (9); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (9); Eric Haase, Tigers (9)

Mariners’ SS J.P.Crawford had the most July at bats without a home run (101).

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Austin Riley. Braves  (25); Joey Votto, Reds  (25); Manny Machado, Padres (25)

American League – Eric Haase, Tigers (29); Jose Abreu, White Sox (23); Jose Altuve, Astros (22); Austin Meadows, Rays (22); Franmil Reyes, Indians (22)

Reds’ 1B Joey Votto led all players (with at least 75 July at bats) in slugging percentage at .734.

HITS

National League – Freddie Freeman, Braves  (36);  Chris Taylor, Dodgers (33); Kyle Farmer, Reds (32);  Juan Soto, Nationals (32)

American League – David Fletcher, Angels (37);  Jose Polanco, Twins (34); Tim Anderson, White Sox (32)

DOUBLES

National League –  Bryce Harper, Phillies (11); Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (11); Josh Harrison,, Nationals* (11)     *Harrison is now with the A’s.

American League: Jeimer Candelario, Tigers (10); Time Anderson, White Sox (9); five with eight.

TRIPLES

National League – Jake Cronenworth, Padres (3); David Peralta, D-backs (2); Tyrone Taylor, Brewers (2); Josh Harrison, Nationals* (2)    *Harrison is now with the A’s.

American League – Wander Franco, Rays (3); Will Castro, Tigers (2); Nicky Lopez, Royals (2); Francisco, Mejia, Rays (2)

Nationals’ RF Juan Soto had the highest on-base percentage among players with at least 75 July at bats at .487. In addition to his 32 hits (.356 average), he drew 24 walks (versus only 15 strikeouts).

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Starling Marte, Marlins* (10); Raimel Tapia, Rockies (8); Fernando Tatis, Jr. Padres (7)  *Marte is now with the A’s.

American League – Myles Straw, Indians (5); Whit Merrifield, Royals (5); Gleyber Torres, Yankees (5); Greg Allen, Yankees (5). Jose Ramirez, Indians (5)

Starling Marte led MLB with 11 July steals, ten with the Marlins and one with the A’s. (Marte was traded to the A’s on July 28).

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Nationals (23); Brandon Nimmo, Mets (20); Joey Votto, Reds (19)

American League – Robbie Grossman, Tigers (22); Josh Donaldson, Twins (18); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (15)

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Brandon Nimmo, Mets (32); Patrick Wisdom, Cubs (30); Chris Taylor, Dodgers (29); Eugenio Suarez, Reds (29)

American League – Trevor Larnach (41); Shohei Ohtani, Angels  (37); Bobby Bradley, Indians (34); Matt Chapman, A’s (34)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Kim Hyun-Kim, Cardinals (4-1); 11 with three

American League – Jameson Taillon, Yankees (4-0); 11 with three

The Rangers’ Kolby Allard, was the only pitcher to pick up five July losses (0-5, 9.13 in five starts.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 20 July innings pitched)

National League – Tyler Megill, Mets (1.04); Walker Buehler, Dodgers (1.67); Adrian Houser, Brewers (2.05)

American League – Alex Cobb, Angels (1.09); Jameson Taillon, Yankees (1.16); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (1.35)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Luis Castillo, Reds (41 / 37 2/3 IP); German Marquez, Rockies (40 / 31 1/3); Walker Buehler, Dodgers  (38 / 32 1/3 IP)

American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (47 / 28 2/3 IP); Lance McCullers, Astros (42 / 30 1/3 IP); Patrick Sandoval, Angels (41 / 33 1/3 IP). Sean Manaea, A’s (41 / 30 IP).

SAVES

National League – Heath Embree, Reds (7); Mark Melancon, Padres (7); Jake McGee Giants (7)

American League: Raisel Iglesias, Angels (6); Ryan Pressly, Astros (6); four with five.

–—-Some July Highlight—–

DH … We Don’t Need to Stinkin’ DH!

On July 4, the Braves went into the tenth inning of their game against the Marlins with a depleted bench. After the Marlins failed to score in the top of the inning, The Braves started their half with Austin Riley placed (ugh) at second base. The Marlins intentionally walked SS Dansby Swanson to put runners on first and second (setting up a double play?). CF Guillermo Heredia then hit a fly to deep right, with Riley going to third after the catch.  LF  Orlando Arcia was walked – loading the bases. Riley was then retired (C-P) trying to score on an errant pitch – with Swanson moving to third base (runners now on first and third with one out). C Kevan Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up the pitcher’s (Will Smith) spot.  The Braves brought pitcher Max Fried in to pinch hit -and he delivered a walk-off, RBI single.  (And he had more in store for the month).

On July 17, Braves’ southpaw Fried threw seven shutout innings (four hits, one walk, seven strikeouts) as Atlanta topped Tampa Bay 9-0. Fried also sparkled at the plate – going three-for-three, with one double, two runs scored and two RBI. As July closed, Fried as 7-7. 4.32 on the mound and .290-0-5 at the plate for the season.

Green Celebrates Independence Day with an Immaculate Inning

On July 4, the Yankees and Mets faced off in an  all-New York  day/night double header at Yankee Stadium. The Mets took Game One 10-5. In the night cap, the Yankees were up 3-2 after four (of the slated seven) frames.  In the top of the fifth, the  Yankees brought in Chad Green to hold the Mets at bay – and he did it with flash. He retired the side in order  on 13 pitches (including two strikeouts) in the fifth – and the Yankees tied it up in the bottom of the inning.  Green used another 13 pitches to complete a 1-2-3 sixth (with one more whiff).  Then, he topped it all off with an “Immaculate Inning” in the seventh.  Nine pitches, three strikeouts . Stats, Inc. reported that Green was the first pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900) to pitch three 1-2-3 innings, fan six batters AND thrown an immaculate inning in the same game (more of #InBaseballWeCountEverything). Green’s was MLB’s 104th Immaculate Inning.

Only seven pitchers have thrown multiple Immaculate Innings: Sandy Koufax; Randy Johnson; Max Scherzer; Chris Sale; Nolan Ryan; Lefty Grove; Kevin Gausman. Only Koufax has three such innings.

Pujols Becomes the Fourth on the Fifth

On July 5, as the Marlins topped the Dodgers 5-4, Albert Pujols popped an eighth-inning single to center (off Zach Pop), which made Pujols just the fourth MLB player to accumulate 6,000 or more total bases in his career.  The others? Not a bad group:  Henry Aaron (6,856); Stan Musial (6,134); Willie Mays (6,080).  Pujols ended July with 6,014 total bases. He was also 13th on the all-time hits list, fifth in home runs (675) and third in RBI (2,138).

DH? Why?

On July 8, Padres’ reliever Daniel Camarena was called on to pitch in the top of the  fourth inning, with his squad down  6-0 t0 Nationals’ (now Dodgers’) ace Max Scherzer. In his first inning of work, Camarena gave up a two-run homer to  Nationals’ (now Dodgers’) Trea Turner, extending the LA lead to 8-0. In the bottom of the frame, a Fernando Tatis, Jr. home run and a Will Myers’ bases-loaded walk (following a single and two hit batters) set up a bases-loaded plate appearance for Camarena.  For whatever reason (saving the bullpen, perhaps), manager Jayce Tingler let Camarena bat and he delivered a Grand Slam home run (off a Scherzer 96-mph fastball)  for his first MLB hit (in his second MLB plate appearance). It proved to be a pretty big hit, as the Padres came back to win 9-8. (Camarena pitched a 1-2-3 fifth before being replaced on the mound in the top of the sixth.) Camarena, by the  way, is just the second MLB pitcher to hit a Grand Slam for his first hit in the “show.”

A Couple Dozen Runs Ought to Do it.

On July 16, as the Padres pounded the Nationals 24-8, Padres’ 2B Jake Cronenworth completed the second cycle (single, double, triple, homer in one game) of the 2021 season.  (The first went to the Nationals’ Trea Turner on June 30). After lining out in the first inning, Cronenworth doubled home two-runs in the second; hit an RBI triple in the third; added a solo home run in the fifth; and collected the needed single in the sixth.

Give Him the Yellow Jersey

No one ever completed an MLB cycle faster than Rockies’ 2B Mike Lansing (June 18, 2000). Lansing did it in four innings – RBI triple in the first; two-run home run in the second; two-run double in the third; and single in the fourth.

A Few Tidbits from the All Star Game

Lots has been written about the 2021 All Star Game, so let me just share a few tidbits that caught my eye.

• The AL is on a hot streak – eight wins in a row.
• Shohei Ohtani became the ultimate All Star starter – starting on the mound for the AL and batting leadoff.
• Vlad Guerrero, Jr. became the youngest ever All Star MVP at 22 years, 119 days.
• Guerrero Jr. also also completed just the third father-son set to both homer in an All Star Game:  the list now includes Vlad Guerrero and Vlad Jr.; Ken Griffey and Ken Jr.; and Bobby and Barry Bonds.
• In this whiff-crazy era, NL batters only fanned three times. (For those that like to know such things, the record is zero strikeouts for the 1937 NL squad.)
• A total of 59 players appeared in the game. (For those who like to know such things, the American League used a record low 11 players in the 1942 All Star Game).

______________________________________________________

Don’t Worry, I Got This

On July 18^th, Cardinals’ reliever Alex Reyes was called to the mound in the top of the ninth inning, with the Cardinals up 2-1. He pitched around a couple of walks  to record his 22^nd save of 2021 and convert the 24th consecutive save opportunity since the start of his career (breaking a record held by the Twins’ LaTroy Hawkins).   Note: Reyes recorded a blown save in his very next opportunity (July 18) – getting touched for three runs in one-third of an inning against the Cubs. To that point in the 2021 season, he had given up just seven earned runs in 40 appearances (43 1/3 innings – 1.45 ERA).

What Kind of Chance? Let’s Say 50-50 He Gets to the HOF

On July 22, as the Padres topped the Marlins 3-2, San Diego SS Fernando Tatis, Jr. picked up his 23^rd stolen base of the year. Of more interest was that it was the 50^th swipe of his brief MLB career. Coupled with his 68 career homers, it made Tatis the fastest player to reach the 50-50 mark  (at the MLB level) ever (223 games).  Tatis got on base, via a walk, leading off the fifth inning and stole second on the first pitch (from Jordan Holloway) to Padres’ 2B Jake Cronenworth. He later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of 3B Manny Machad0.  In his three MLB seasons (as of July 21), Tatis’ line was .297-68-164, with 50 steals in 61 attempts.

100 … That a Nice Round Number

On July 22, the Red Sox faced the rival Yankees at Fenway. After a striking out in the to end both the first and third innings, Rafael  Devers came up in the bottom of the fifth with one runner on base, two outs and the scored tied a 1-1 – and poked a two-run homer to center to give the Sox the lead.  It was the 24-year-old’s 99^th career round tripper. He didn’t wait long for number 100. It came on his next at bat, in the bottom of the seventh, when he hit another long ball to center – a three-run shot this time. The Red won 6-2, with Devers two homers plating five of their runs.

A Wild Finish to the For the Yankees

On July 22, The Yankees’ brought in righty Brooks Kriske  to open the bottom of the tenth against the Red Sox – with New York up 4-0. What followed was a wild record-setting and record-tying string of events. The inning started with the Red Sox’ Rafael Devers placed at second base. Kriske uncorked a wild pitch on his first offering to Boston  SS Xander Bogaerts, sending Devers to third. Three pitches later, with a 2-1 count on Bogaerts, Kriske was wild again – enabling Devers to tally the tying run. On the next pitch he walked Bogaerts, bringing DH J.D. Martinez to the plate. After getting a strike over on the first pitch to Martinez, Kniske fired another wild pitch, sending Bogaerts to second. Two pitches later, another wild pitch allowed Bogaerts to advance to third base. So, at this point, Kriske had thrown 16 pitches – 11 balls (including the four wild pitches) and five strikes.  He did manage to fan Martinez (swinging – on a 2-2 pitch), but then RF Hunter Renfroe hit the first pitch he saw for a game-winning sacrifice fly.  Kriske tied the AL record for wild pitches in an inning and set a new MLB record for wild pitches in an extra inning.  All four wild offerings were on splitters in the dirt.  The MLB record for wild pitches in an inning belongs to Bert Cunningham of the Players League Buffalo Bisons (five in the first inning of a game on September 15, 1890).  By the next day, Kriske was sent down to Triple-A.

Kind of a Cycle

On July 23, as the Phillies topped the Braves 5-1, Phillies’ RF Bryce Harper stole third base in the first inning;  and second base and home plate in the fifth. Side note: 43 different players have stolen second, third and home in the same inning.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Check out this July 23 dash around the Bases by  Rays’ RF Randy Arozarena.

More #WhyIHateTheDH

On July 25, the White Sox topped the Brewers (in Milwaukee) by a 3-1 score.  White Sox’ starter Lance Lynn picked up his tenth win of the season (three losses) – going six innings and giving up six hits and one run (no walks, six whiffs). The game was played, of course, in a National League park, so Lynn found himself going into the batter’s box for the first time this season. He came up in the second inning with runners on second and third and the Sox up 1-0. Lynn drove an 0-2 pitch into right field for a two-run single. He batted once more in the game (fanning on four pitches. Lynn ended July at 10-3, 2.-7 on the season– with a .500 batting average.

Home Runs Not Always the Answer

On July 28, the Minnesota Twins lost to the Tigers 17-14 (in Minnesota). Each team collected sixteen hits in the game. But the Twins out-homered the Tigers 7-0. It was the first time in the modern era (post-1900) that a team had out-homered their opponents by seven and lost the game.  A couple of other notes from the game:

• Every member of the Tigers’ starting lineup had at least one RBI, at least one hit and at least one run scored.
• The Twins’ home runs were hit by Miguel Sano (two homers, four RBI); Ryan Jeffers (two homers, six RBI); Max Kepler; Brent Rooker; and Jorge Polanco.
• In terms of extra-base hits, the Twins had seven home runs and one double; the Tigers had six doubles and one triple.

Making Those Swings Count.

On July 28, Pirates’ rookie  infielder Rodolfo Castro played in his  ninth MLB game. The 22-year-old had a memorable night: tw0-for-four with two home runs and three RBI. To that point in his MLB career, Castro was 5-for-21 (.238), but all five of his hits were home runs.  He is the first MLB ;player to go yard on each of his first five career safeties.  In five minor-league seasons, Rodolfo hit .256, with 50 home runs (385 games).

Votto – Lucky Number Seven

From July 24 through July 30, Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto homered in seven straight games – tying a Reds’ franchise record and falling just one game short of the all-time MLB record.  In those seven games, he had 10 hits in 26 at bats (.385), nine home runs,  six walks, one sacrifice fly and 15 RBI. For those that like to know such things, the record for total home runs in a seven-game span is ten – by the Senators’ Frank Howard (1968. the Year of the Pitcher); the Indians’ Albert Belle (1995); and the Dodgers’ Shawn Green (2002).

Welcome to the Shohei Show

On July 29, Shohei Ohtani – at DH for the Angels against the A’s – stole his fifteenth base of the season.  What doesn’t he do? Through July he is .278-37-82 at the plate (and has those 15 steals).  On the mound, 5-1, 3.04 in fifteen starts, with 100 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched.

If One Is Good, Two is Better and Three is a Record

On July, 31, White Sox rookie catcher Seby Zavala hit his first MLB home run – in his 18^th MLB game. It came  as Zavala led of the bottom of the third inning – and added to a White Sox 1-0 lead. Zavala didn’t have wait long for dinger number two. He popped a Grand Slam the very next inning. But he wasn’t done yet.  In his next trip to the plate, leading off the bottom of the seventh, he homered again (this on bringing the White Sox to a three-run deficit – despite Zavala’s earlier heroics, they were down 10-6 at the time). Zavala got one more at bat, but he went into a slump, hitting a mere single. The White Sox lost to Cleveland 12-11, but Zavala gave it his all – four-for-four, with four runs scored and six RBI. In the process, he became the first major leaguer to have a three-homer game in the game in which he hit his first homer.

–——Team  Statistical Leaders through  July ———-

RUNS SCORED (average 469)

National League –  Dodgers (547); Reds (514); Padres (507)

American League – Astros (577); Red Sox (528); Rays (528)

Four teams averaged five or more runs per game through July: Astros (5.50); Blue Jays (5.18);and Dodgers (5.16) and Rays (5.03) The Pirates averaged the fewest runs per game through June at 3.65. Lowest  in the AL was the Rangers at 3.86.

AVERAGE (average .241)

National League – Nationals (.258); Reds (.251); Giants (.245)

American League – Astros (.268); Blue Jays (.265); Red Sox (.256)

The lowest team average through July belonged to the Mariners  both  at .221.

HOME RUNS (average 126)

National League – Giants (156); Braves (148); Dodgers (145)

American League –  Blue Jays (157); Twins (152); Astros (139)

The Pirates had the fewest home runs through July  at 84. The only other team under 100 dingers was the Diamondback at 95.

STOLEN BASES (average 47)

National League – Padres (91); Marlins (75); Rockies (62)

American League Royals (65); Rays (61); Tigers (61)

The Reds  stole the fewest sacks through June at 24.

WALKS DRAWN (average 345)

National League – Dodgers (420); Padres (410); Brewers (400)

American League – Yankees (418); Rays (392); White Sox (391)

The Astros  led MLB  in on-base percentage through  July at .341. The Dodgers led the NL at .334. In slugging percentage, the Blue Jays were also on top at .458, while the Giants  led the NL at .436.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS (average 920)

National League – Brewers (1.012); Cubs (1,010); Marlins (1,000)

American League – Rays (1,055); Tigers (1,013); Mariners (1,002)

Astros’ batters went down on strikes the fewest times through July  (791).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (average 4.21)

National League – Dodgers (3.21); Brewers (3.36); Giants (3.37)

American League – Rays (3.53); A’s (3.66); White Sox (3.66)

Two teams had ERA’s through July at 5.00  or higher – Orioles (5.42) and Diamondbacks (5.28)

STRIKEOUTS (average 914)

National League – Brewers (1,053); Dodgers (1,049); Padres (1,014)

American League – White Sox (1,030); Rays (996); Red Sox (983)

The White Sox  averaged an MLB-best 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings through July. The Brewers  led the NL at 10.1.  The MLB average was 9.1.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED (average 345)

National League – Giants (273); Mets (302); Phillies (323)

American League – A’s (282); Rays (289); Yankees (308)

The Giants,  A’s and Rays all walked a stingiest 2.7 batters per nine frames. The Cardinals walked an MLB’s highest 4.4 per nine innings through July.

SAVES (average 25)

National League – Giants (37); Padres (36); Dodgers (31)

American League – Red Sox (34); White Sox (29); Mariners (29)

Bonus Stats – In the Field

The Marlins led MLB in errors through July at 73.  The Red Sox and  Twins led the AL with 71 miscues. The Astros committed the fewest errors (43), while the Giants had the fewest in the NL at 48.

——-Individual Statistical Leaders through July 31———-

BATTING AVERAGE (qualifying players – 3.1 at plate appearance for each team game played)

National League – Nick Castellanos, Reds (.329); Trea Turner, Dodgers (.322); J Adam Frazier, Padres (.318)

American League – Michael Brantley, Astros (330);  Vlad Guerrero, Jr. , Blue Jays (.327); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (.321)

The lowest average through July  (among qualifiers) belonged to the Reds’ Eugenio Suarez at .173 (65-for-375).

HOME RUNS

National League – Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (31); Kyle Schwarber, Nationals* (25); Ronald Acuna, He. Braves (24)  *Schwarber now with the Red Sox

American League –  Shohei Ohtani, Angels (37); Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (33); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (27); Matt Olson, A’s (27)

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Jesus Aguilar, Marlins (75); Manny Machado, Padres (75); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (69)

American League – Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (83); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (82); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (82)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani  had the highest slugging percentage among qualifiers at .682.  The only other players over .600 were  the Blue Jays’ Vlad Guerrero, Jr. (.654) and Padres’ Fernando Tatis, Jr. (.651)

HITS

National League – Adam Frazier, Padres (129); Trea Turner, Dodgers  (125); Bryan Reynolds, Pirates (116); Jesse Winker, Reds (116)

American League – Cedric Mullins, Orioles (125); Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (121); David Fletcher, Angels (121)

DOUBLES

National League –  Ozzie Albies, Braves (31); Nick Castellanos, Reds (29):  Adam Frazier, Padres (29)

American League – Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (29); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (28); J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (28); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (28)

TRIPLES

National League Dave Peralta, D-backs (7); Ozzie Albies, Braves (5); Jake Cronenworth, Padres (5); Garrett Hampson, Rockies (5)

American League – Akil Baddoo, Tigers (5); Nicky Lopez, Royals (5); seven with four.

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (23); Starling Marte, Marlins* (22); Trea Turner, Dodgers (21);  *Marte is now with the A’s.

American League – Whit Merrifield, Royals (27); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (18); Myles Straw, Indians (17)

The most stolen bases without being thrown out through July was 16  by the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette.  MLB SB leader Whit Merrifield (Royals) was 27-for-28 in steal attempts.

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Nationals (72); Freddie Freeman, Braves (64); Max Muncy, Dodgers (64)

American League – Joey Gallo, Yankees (76); Robbie Grossman, Tigers (69); Carlos Santana, Royals (63)

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Javier Baez, Mets (133); Eugenio Suarez, Reds (128); Dansby Swanson, Braves (116)

American League – Matt Chapman, A’s (134); Joey Gallo, Yankees (128); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (124)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League –Kyle Hendricks, Cubs (13-4); Julio Urias, Dodgers (12-3); Walker Buehler, Dodgers (11-1)

American League – Chris Bassitt, A’s (11-3); Aaron Civale, Indians (10-2); Lance Lynn, White Sox (10-3); Zack Greinke,  Astros (10-3); Hyun Jin Ryu, Blue Jays (10-5); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (10-6)

The  Orioles’ Jorge Lopez (2-12, 6.19) had the most losses through July.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (qualifying players … at least one inning pitch for each team game played))

National League –David Peralta, Brewers (2.177); Walker Buehler, Dodgers (2.19); Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (2.26)

American League – Lance Lynn, White Sox (2.07); Kyle Gibson, Rangers (2.87); Sean Manaea, A’s (3.01)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Zack Wheeler, Phillies (165  / 139 2/3);  Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (152 / 131 1/3); Corbin Burnes, Brewers (152 / 106 IP)

American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (176 / 130 1/3 IP); Robbie Roy, Blue Jays (150 / 118 1/3 IP); Carlos Rodon, White Sox (149 / 104 2/2 IP)

Among qualifying pitchers, the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes had the best strikeouts/nine innings ratio through July  at 12.9. Carlos Rodon of the White Sox r led the AL at 12.8.

Among qualifying pitchers,  Burnes also had the best strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 7.60.

SAVES

National League – Mark Melancon, Padres (32); Alex Reyes, Cardinals (24); Craig Kimbrel, Cubs* (23);  Edwin Diaz, Mets (23) *Kimbrel now with the White Sox.

American League: Liam Hendriks, White Sox (26):  Matt Barnes, Red Sox (23);  Raisel Iglesias, Angels (22)

Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer:  Some of the MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change (primarily additions) as Major League Baseball recognizes and fully incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48 into the MLB record book.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

My Minnesota Twins just came off a stretch in which they played five games in three days – including a pair of doubleheaders.  That sent me to thinking about real doubleheaders. You know, the kind with nine-inning games (Guess you can tell where I stand on this issue). With that in mind, this post will take a look at some doubleheader history.

Now, That’s a Lot of Baseball

The 1945 Boston Braves played an MLB-record 46 doubleheaders. Let’s put that in perspective – 59.7 percent of the games they played that season were part of doubleheaders. How did they do?  They won 42 of those games, lost 48 and tied two.  Basically, they played .466 ball in twin bills, a bit better than their .403 winning percentage on days when they played just one game.  By the way, just so you don’t think those 46 doubleheaders were a one-off event, the 1943 White Sox hold the AL record for doubleheaders in a season at 44.

18 Games in 12 Days

The 1928 Boston Braves played a record nine consecutive doubleheaders over a 12-day span (September 4-15). During the streak, they swept one doubleheader, were swept six times and split two – for a four win-fourteen loss record.  Notably,  six players played every inning of those games (RF  Lance Richbourg; LF Eddie Brown; 1B George Sisler; 2B Rogers Hornsby; 3B Les Bell; SS Doc Farrell). The team used eight different starting pitchers during the 18-game stretch – none more often than Bob Smith, who started four contests (including both ends of one doubleheader).

The stretch of twin bills may have been taxing on the hurlers’ arms. The Braves got just five complete games during the span (27.8 percent of the starts) – well below the MLB average for the year of 50.7 percent and short of the Braves’ average for the rest of the season  (36.2 percent). Bob Smith’s record may be indicative of that wear and tear. In his first start of the stretch (September 5), he tossed a complete-game two-hitter as Boston topped Brooklyn 7-1. On September 10, he tossed a second complete game, a seven-hitter, as Boston lost to the Giants 4-1.  Then on September 14, he failed to make it out of the first inning of the first game against the Giants, giving up four runs without recording an out.  Undeterred, the Braves sent him back out to start the second game of the twin bill – in which he gave up  five runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings – taking his second loss of the day.  Side note:  Smith recovered from that tough  two-loss day. He had three more starts that season, pitching 31 1/3 innings in those games (1-2, 2.87). He finished the season 13-17, 3.87 for a Braves team that went 50-103.

One Thing Leads to Another … Bob Smith

Now, I often note how “one thing leads to another” when I embark on research for these posts.  In this case, my interest in Bob (Robert Eldridge) Smith was sparked. Here’s what I learned.  Smith started his MLB career as a shortstop/second baseman, said to have a below average bat and no better than an average glove. He made it to the Braves as a 28-year-old in 1923 and, in his first MLB season, hit .240, with two home runs and 78 RBI. He also was 9-for-20 in stolen base attempts.  He did, however, flash a strong arm and, in 1925, began the conversion to the pitcher’s mound (in 1925, he appeared in 13 games as a pitcher, 15 at second base, 21 at SS and one in CF). By 1926, Smith (at age 31) was pretty much a full-time pitcher – and it saved his career. His mound work kept him in the major leagues until 1937 (age 42) – finishing with a 106-139, 3.94 record and 128 complete games in 229 starts.   In 1928, he was clearly the ace of the Braves’ staff leading the team in wins (13), complete games (14) and innings pitched (244 1/3). From 1926 through 1930, he won at least ten games for the Braves every season. He was traded to the Cubs after the 1930 season and had his career-best season for Chicago in 1931 (15-12, 3.22)

One more tidbit about Mr. Smith.  On May 17, 1927, as the Braves faced the Cubs in Boston, Smith started – and went all 22 innings – as the Braves lost to the Cubs 4-3. Smith gave up 20 hits and four runs (three earned), walking nine and fanning five in this tough loss. It remains the fifth most innings pitched by a starter in an MLB Game.  Here’s the top five:

TIED FOR FIRST– 26 innings.  On May 1, 1920, the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) and Boston Braves played 26 innings to a 1-1 tie, with both starters (Leon Cadore – Robins and Joe Oeschger – Braves going the distance.   No one scored in this one after the sixth inning.

TIED FOR THIRD (and first in the AL) – 24 innings. On September 1, 1906, the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Americans (Red Sox) matched up in a 24-inning duel (in Boston) that the Athletics won 4-1 (with no scoring from the seventh through the 23^rd inning). Both starters (Jack Coombs – Athletics and Joe Harris – Americans) went the distance.  Harris took the tough loss (his 18th of the season – versus just two wins). He finished the campaign at 2-21, leading the league in losses. 

FIFTH – 22 innings.  As already noted, on May 17, 1927, Bob Smith pitched all 22 frames as the Cubs topped  Smith’s Boston Braves’ 4-3 in Boston.  Down 3-0 after five innings, Smith held the Cubs scoreless  until the 22^nd inning, when a walk, successful sacrifice and single plated the winning run.

Putting Up Crooked Numbers

The record for runs scored in a doubleheader – both teams – is 54.  It has been done twice.  On August 21, 1894,the National League Boston Beaneaters swept a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds by score of 18-3 and 25-8. Then, on Independence Day in 1939, there were lots of fireworks on the field in Philadelphia, as the Red Sox topped the Athletics 17-7 and 18-12.

Well, That Didn’t Take Long

The fewest runs scored in a doubleheader? It may surprise you (because it’s not two.)   The answer is one.  On September 4 1902, the Pittsburgh Pirate and Boston Beaneaters matched up in a doubleheader in Boston. Game One went to Boston 1-0 (in one hour and twenty minutes). Game Two ended in a nine-inning 0-0 tie (one hour and 30 minutes).

A Good Days Work

On September 26, 1908, Cubs’ righty Ed Reulbach started both games of a doubleheader against Brooklyn (Superbas).  He went the distance in both contests, giving up just eight hits over the 18 innings.  Reulbach is the only MLB pitcher ever to record two complete-game shutouts in a single day.

Another Good Days Work – or Two

On May 2, 1954, Cardinals’ right fielder Stan Musial hit five home runs in doubleheader (versus the Giants in Saint Louis). Sitting in the stands that day was eight-year-old Nate Colbert who – On August 1, 1972 – would become just the second player ever to hit five home runs in a twin bill. Colbert was playing first base for the Padres, who were taking on the Braves in Atlanta. In his five-homer twin bill, Colbert set the record for RBI in a doubleheader (13). The Cardinals, by the way, split their doubleheader on Musial’s big day, beating the Giants 10-6 in Game One and losing the second game 9-7. The Padres swept the Braves (9-0 and 11-7) on Colbert’s record-tying day.

I Call Trade-Zees

On May 30, 1922, the Cardinals and Cubs matched up in a Memorial Day doubleheader in Chicago. The Cubs took Game One by a 4-1 score – with one of the four tallies driven in by RF Max Flack. Playing CF for the Cardinals was Cliff Heathcote, who went zero-for-three.  In Game Two,  Heathcote and Flack were both starting in the garden – but for the teams they had opposed in Game One.  Traded between games, Flack started in RF, leading off, for the  Cardinals, while Heathcote started in RF, batting fifth for the Cubs. The Cubs won this one 3-1, with Heathcote going two-for-four.  Flack went one-for-four for his new team.

Don’t Worry – I Got This

In August of 1903, the Giants’ Joe McGinnity started  both games of a doubleheader three times – August 1, Augusts 8 and August 31.  In those starts, he picked up six complete-game victories – giving up a total of 10 runs in the six contests. By the way, the Giants played 11 doubleheaders that month. Surprisingly, on the August days when he pitched only one game (another six starts), McGinnity went 1-5 and gave up 28 runs. For the season, he was 31-20, 2.43, with 44 complete games in 48 starts.  No wonder his nickname was “Iron Joe.”

Way Too Much Overtime

On May 31, 1964, Mets fans faced a long day of suffering.  Not only did the New Yorkers lose both ends of a doubleheader to the San Francisco Giants – it took them a doubleheader-record 32 innings (9 hours and 52 minutes) to do it. The Giants won game one 5-3 in a brisk 2:29.  The second game, however, went 23 innings (7:23), with the Giants winning 8-6.   This is the longest doubleheader by innings and the longest in time –  without a weather delay.

On July 2, 1993, the Padres and Phillies split a twin bill in Philadelphia that kept the fans (who stayed on) in the park for more than 12 hours. Consider the patience needed.  The first game was delayed one hour and ten minutes before the first pitch; another one hour and 56 minutes in the fourth inning; and two hours and 48 minutes in the sixth. The teams began play at 4:35 p.m. on Friday, July 2 and wrapped up at 4:40 a.m. Saturday – a doubleheader record 12 hours and five minutes.

Nine-for-Nine

Nine players have collected nine hits in a doubleheader.  The most recent was Lee Thomas of the Angels on September 5, 1961. The Angels’ RF went five-for-five in the first game (on double and four singles), without a run scored or an RBI) as the Angels lost to the Athletics 7-3.  Game Two was more productive for Thomas. He was four-for-six, with three home runs, three runs scored and eight RBI. The Angels, however, still lost 13-12.

Cubs’ Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was quoted often as saying “Let’s play two!”  He was right!

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Yesterday (July 16, 2012) – as the Padres scored 24 runs, demolishing the Nationals 24-8 – Padres second baseman  Jake Cronenworth hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run in the same game). The 27-year-old, in his second MLB season, went four-for-five, with one run scored and four RBI. Cronenworth, batting in the three-hole, lined out to shortstop in the first inning, hit a two-run double in the second, added a run-scoring triple in the third, poked a solo home run to right-center in the fifth and and beat out a ground ball single in the sixth to complete the cycle.  (Jurickson Profar replaced Cronenworth in the bottom of the seventh.) Cronenworth came into the game hitting .276-12-34 on the season.

Cronenworth’s cycle gives Baseball Roundtable a good excuse to look at some MLB cycle trivia and tidbits.  So, let’s get to it.

Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer:  The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change (primarily additions) as Major League Baseball recognizes and fully incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48 into the MLB record book.

Over the years, the cycle has been a rare, but no exceedingly rare, occurrence.  In fact, the shortened 2020 season was the first campaign since 1983 that was completed without a cycle.  The cycle has been accomplished a total of 332 times by a total of 293 MLB players.  Twenty-seven players have hit for multiple cycles.

The Cycle, Let’s do it Again … and Again … and again

Only five  MLB players have hit for the cycle three times in their careers: John Reilly (Red Stockings, twice in 1883 and Reds in 1890); Babe Herman (Brooklyn Robins, twice in 1931 and Cubs in 1933); Bob Meusel (Yankees in 1921, 1922 and 1928); Adrian Beltre (Mariners in 2008, Rangers in 2012 and 2015); and the still active Trea Turner (Nationals in 2017, 2019, 2021).

Happy Birthday to Me

When “just-turned-28” Trea Turner hit for the cycle on June 30 of this season, he became the first MLB player to hit for the cycle on his birthday. 

Yellow Jersey to the Fastest Cycle Ever

On June 18, 2000, Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed the cycle in just four innings – making it  the quickest cycle in MLB history. Notably, Lansing was consistently behind in the counts and three of his four hits came with two strikes.

Lansing, batting second in the order, hit:

• An RBI triple to right in the first inning, on a 1-2 pitch;
• A two-run home run (0-1 pitch) in the bottom of the second;
• A two-run double (2-2 pitch) in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead); and
• A single (another 1-2 offering) to right in the fourth.

Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter (Darren Bragg) in the eighth. Lansing ended the day four-for-five, with three runs scored and five RBI, as the Rockies torched the Diamondbacks 19-2 in Denver. Lansing came into the game hitting .274, with ten doubles, three triples and nine home runs on the season.

In addition to his fastest-ever cycle, Lansing shares the record for the most home runs in an inning (two).  On May 7, 1997, he hit a two-run and three-run homer in a 13-run sixth inning, as the Expos topped the Giants 19-3 in San Francisco.  That was his best season in the majors, as he hit .281 and recorded his career highs in home runs (20), RBI (70) and doubles (45).  Lansing had a nine-season MLB career (1993-2001 … Expos, Rockies, Red Sox), hitting .271, with 84 home runs, 440 RBI, 554 runs scored and 119 stolen bases.

Fastest Cycle Ever … From a Career Perspective

Minnesota Twins’ outfielder Gary Ward hit for the cycle in just his 14th MLB game (September 18, 1980, against the Brewers) – the earliest in an MLB career anyone has ever accomplished the feat.

Two Cycles in One Season

Photo by IDSportsPhoto

Only five players have collected two cycles in one season. Among those, Brewers’ outfielder Christian Yelich  (photo) is the only one to hit for the cycle against the same team (the Reds) twice in the same campaign. In Yelich’s 2018 MVP season, he hit for the cycle on August 29, as the Brewers topped the Reds 13-12 in ten innings in Cincinnati. He doubled up on cycles on September 17, as the Brewers topped the Reds 8-0 in Milwaukee.

The Cycle … A Family Affair

Only two father-son combinations have hit for the cycle at the Major-league level – and both involved rookies.

Gary Ward (as noted above) hit for the cycle as a rookie for the Twins on September 18, 1980. His son Daryle hit for the cycle for the Pirates (against the Cardinals) on May 26, 2004 (in his seventh MLB season).

Blues Jays’ rookie Cavan Biggio – in a September 17, 2019 game against the Orioles – hit for the cycle in just his 89^th MLB game.  Cavan’s father, Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, hit for the cycle (for the Astros versus the Rockies) on April 8, 2002.

The Cycle … Sometimes it Skips a Generation

Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Gus Bell hit for the cycle on June 4, 1951 – as the Pirates topped the Phillies 12-4 in Philadelphia. Fifty-three seasons later – on June 28, 2004 – Phillies’ 3B David Bell (Gus Bell’s grandson) hit for the cycle (also in Philadelphia), as the Phillies topped the Expos 14-6.   Gus and David Bell are the only grandfather-grandson combination to achieve MLB cycles. The Bell’s were a three-generation MLB family.  However, David Bell’s father (Gus Bell’s son) Buddy Bell did not achieve a cycle in his career. (Neither did David’s brother Mike, who played in 19 MLB games in the 2000 season).

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

Adrian Beltre hit a record-tying three career cycles – all at Arlington  Stadium (twice for the Rangers and once for the visiting Mariners, making him the only player to hit for the cycle in the same stadium for two different teams).

On the Big Stage

Brock Holt is the only player to record a cycle in the post season. He did it on October 8, 2018, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 16-1 in Game Three of the American League Division Series. Holt grounded out in the top of the second inning; had a single and a triple in the Yankees seven-run fourth; grounded out in the sixth; hit a ground-rule double in the eighth; and managed to finish his cycle  with a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was Holt’s second career cycle.  He had a regular-season cycle for the Red Sox on June 16, 2015, as Boston topped Atlanta 9-4 at Fenway. He also completed that cycle with two outs in Boston’s last offensive inning – hitting a triple with two down in the bottom of the eighth.

Shortest Time Between Cycles

John Reilly (Reds) and Tip O‘Neill (St. Louis Brown Stockings, American Association) had the shortest time between cycles at just seven days. Reilly’s came on September 12 and September 19, 1883. O’Neill’s came on April 30 and May 7, 1887.

It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night

The Expos’ Tim Foli is the only player to start a cycle one day and complete it the next. On April 21, 1976, Foli collected a single, double and triple in a contest against the Cubbies that was suspended (pre-Wrigley lights) in the top of the seventh due to darkness. When play resumed the following day, Foli added an eighth-inning home run. (The Expos prevailed 12-6.)

Patience is a Virtue

The longest time between cycles for a player with multiple cycles goes to the Royals’ George Brett (May 28, 1979 and July 25, 1990) at 11-years-58 days.

Something Old … Something New

The youngest MLB player ever to hit for the cycle is the NY Giants’ Mel Ott (age 20, cycle on May 16, 1929).

The oldest player to hit for the cycle is The Angels’ Dave Winfield (age 39, cycle on June 24, 1991).

Sharing the Wealth

Three players have hit for the cycle in both the NL and AL: Bob Watson (NL Astros-1977 and AL Red Sox-1979); John Olerud (NL Mets-1997 and AL Mariners-2001); Michael Cuddyer (AL Twins-2009 and NL Rockies-2014).

Same City – Different League – Same Result

John Reilly collected three MLB cycles. Two for the American Association Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1883 and one for the National League Cincinatti Reds in 1890. 

Quote the Raven, “Nevermore”

The Marlins are the only MLB team to never have a batter record a cycle.

Hitting (running) into an Out for the Cycle

Photo: Library of Congress

 

The Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig (kind of) earned a cycle by being tossed out at the plate.  On June 25, 1934, as New York topped Chicago 13-2  at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig hit two-run home run in the first inning; a  single in the third; and a double in the sixth. Gehrig came up needing just the triple for the cycle in the seventh and hit a smash to deep center (scoring Yankees’ CF Ben Chapman). Gehrig wasn’t satisfied with a three-bagger and was thrown out at home (8-6-2) trying for an inside-the-park home run – thus getting credit for the triple he needed for a cycle.

So Close … and Yet So Far

On June 27, 2003, Johnny Damon was playing CF and leading off for the Red Sox  as they took on the Marlins in Boston.  In a start that brought Boston fans up out of their seats, Damon was three-fourths of the way to the cycle before the first inning was over – and had tied an MLB record with three hits in an inning.  (The Red Sox scored 14 runs in the first inning, on their way to a 25-3 win over the Marlins at Fenway.) Damon who collected a single, double and triple in the bottom of the first, ended the game five-for-seven, with three runs scored, three RBI, a double, a triple and three singles.  He, unfortunately, did not get the cycle. In his final three at bats Damon: struck out; flied out to center; singled to right; singled past third base – ending the game five-for-seven, with three runs and three RBI.

Primary Resources: Society for American Baseball Research; Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.