Game Notes – 07/31/2025

New York’s Cody Bellinger had a quiet end to his loud July, going 1-for-4.  The 30-year-old finished this month with a .657 slugging percentage – a top-50 mark for all Yankees players in any July (min. 100 PA), slotted between Joe DiMaggio’s .658 in 1940 and DiMaggio’s .647 in 1942.  DiMaggio also claims the highest mark, a .983 slugging percentage* built over 121 at-bats in 1937 and arising from 31 extra-base hits among his 52 total knocks.  

*Since we’re here and it has relevance for this current season, DiMaggio’s .983 slugging percentage in July of 1937 is the highest in any July for any player since 1901 with a minimum of at least 100 plate appearances.  Two other Yankees follow – Jason Giambi (.974 in 2005) and Babe Ruth (.970 in 1920).  The monopoly is then ended with the entrance of the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, who slammed and whammed his way to a .953 this July.   White Sox outfielder Albert Belle (.941 in 1998) rounds out the top five.  

Elly De La Cruz crept closer to a second straight 20-homer, 20-steal season with his 19th longball of the 2025 campaign (he has stolen 29 bags).  With one more four-bagger, the Reds’ shortstop will join 11 players* who had multiple 20-20 lines through their age-23 seasons.  The list is broken down pretty evenly between those with three and those with two.

3    Vada Pinson, César Cedeño, Álex Rodríguez, Andruw Jones, Julio Rodríguez

2    Darryl Strawberry, Grady Sizemore, Justin Upton, Mike Trout, Bobby Witt, Jr., Corbin Carroll

*Jackson Chourio could also do this in 2025.  The 21-year-old, who had 21 homers and 22 steals in 2024, has 17 and 18, respectively, this season.

Andrew Abbott yielded three runs (two earned) in five-and-a-third innings in a no-decision.  The Cincinnati southpaw is still just shy of having enough innings to qualify for the ERA title, so let’s look at how his 2.15 ERA stacks up against other Reds hurlers in the Liveball Era who had 19+ starts at this stage (110 team games) of the season.  There’s only a few who undercut Abbott, albeit in a lot more innings.  

1972    Gary Nolan owns a 2.01 ERA in 157.0 IP

1923    Dolf Luque owns a 2.04 ERA in 221.0 IP

2014    Johnny Cueto owns a 2.05 ERA in 162.2 IP

2025    Andrew Abbott owns a 2.15 ERA in 108.2 IP

1921    Eppa Rixey owns a 2.21 ERA in 220.0 IP

Ozzie Albies singled three times and added a double in Atlanta’s 12-11 victory over Cincinnati.  Albies’ line was indicative of the Braves’ attack, as they generated all those runs without the benefit of a home run – the first time in a decade the team has rolled out a dozen-or-more runs while being kept in the yard.  

~Albies has 11 games in his career with at least four hits – he’s one of 14 Braves since 1901 to accumulate at least that many before turning 29 years old.  Henry Aaron (31), Ralph Garr (19) and Chipper Jones (16) own the three highest tallies, and then there’s the bunching with 13, 12 and 11.

13    Bob Horner, Rafael Furcal

12    Wally Berger, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre, Marcus Giles

11    Rabbit Maranville, Félix Millán, Rafael Ramírez, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies

Cal Raleigh went yard for the 42nd time this season. 

~42 home runs through 110 team games is an entrance ticket to some pretty spectacular company.

Most HRs Through 110 Team Games

46    Babe Ruth (1921), Barry Bonds (2001)

45    Mark McGwire (1998)

44    Mark McGwire (1999), Aaron Judge (2022)

43    Babe Ruth (1928), Mickey Mantle (1961), Luis Gonzalez (2001)

42    Jimmie Foxx (1932), Sammy Sosa (1998, 1999), Cal Raleigh (2025)

~This latest power display came with Raleigh assuming duties behind the plate for the Mariners, giving him 34 longballs as a catcher.  He’s now eight shy of matching Javy López (2003) for the most ever.  

~Raleigh’s 42 homers tie him with Mickey Mantle (1958) and Lance Berkman (2002) for the seventh most ever by a switch-hitter.  Those with more:  

54    Mickey Mantle (1961)

52    Mickey Mantle (1956)

45    Chipper Jones (1999), Lance Berkman (2006)

44    Anthony Santander (2024)

43    Mark Teixeira (2005)

Corey Seager singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 30 games.  He’s the 26th player in Rangers history to have a streak of this kind get to at least 30 games, with the top mark held down by Shin-Soo Choo for his 52-gamer in 2018.  At exactly 30, Seager is tied with Juan González (1993, 1996) and himself (2024).  Awaiting at 31:  Julio Franco (1990) and José Canseco (1994).  

Thanks to Baseball Reference and its extraordinary research database, Stathead, for help in assembling this piece.