Home runs, strikeouts hit highs as season comes to end

Oct. 1, 2017 Updated Sun., Oct. 1, 2017 at 8:29 p.m.

By Ronald Blum Associated Press

NEW YORK – In a season of record-high home runs and strikeouts along with record-low complete games, there were some constants in Major League Baseball: Houston’s Jose Altuve and a Colorado Rockies player won batting titles.

Altuve led the majors at .346. Charlie Blackmon led the N.L. at .331, the second straight Colorado player to win and the 10th in 20 years.

There were 6,105 home runs hit in the season that ended Sunday, topping the old mark of 5,963 set in 2000 at the height of the Steroids Era.

Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton hit 59, the most in the majors since Barry Bonds set the record with 73 in 2001 and Sammy Sosa hit 64. Drug testing with penalties began three years later.

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees led the A.L. with 52, breaking the rookie record of 49 set by Oakland’s Mark McGwire in 1987. There were 117 players with 20 or more, up from 111 last year, and 41 with at least 30, up from 38.

Along with the round-trippers came quick returns to the dugout. Strikeouts set a record for the 10th straight season at 40,105, topping last year’s 38,982.

Four pitchers tied for the MLB lead with 18 wins – the fewest ever to top the majors in a non-shortened season.