Home runs, strikeouts hit highs & complete games, bunts sink


              Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (27) raises his bat after he struck out swinging for his last at bat during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. The Braves won 8-5. Stanton finished the season with 59 home runs. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (27) raises his bat after he struck out swinging for his last at bat during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. The Braves won 8-5. Stanton finished the season with 59 home runs. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEW YORK (AP) - 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.

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 AL 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.

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