Offense goes on ice in a frigid April

NEW YORK — Baseball had a whiff of offense in the air during a cold and wet April.

Strikeouts exceeded hits during a full calendar month for the first time in the sport’s history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Nearly one-third of plate appearances this season have ended without the ball being put in play.

“One month is a rather small sample and we are hoping that the phenomenon of strikeouts exceeding hits is an anomaly that will not persist over the course of the season,” baseball Commis- sioner Rob Manfred said in an email to The Associated Press.

There were 6,656 strikeouts and 6,360 hits in April, according to Elias. The previous low differential was in April 2017, when there were 138 more hits than strikeouts.

Including the first four days of the season in March, 32.8 percent of 32,324 plate appearances have ended without a batted ball in play: 7,335 strikeouts, 2,921 walks, 354 hit batters and eight catcher’s interference calls.

Strikeouts have set a record for 10 consecutive seasons, and the average of 17.5 per game in April was a major-league record for a calendar month, according to Elias. This year’s rate projects to 42,539 — which would shatter last year’s mark of 40,104. The total was 32,884 in 2008.

“I think (it’s) more specialized use of the bullpen — bullpen arms, bullpen power, bullpen strikeouts,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It is not surprising, yet alarming at the same time. I think you will see in time a correction in amateur baseball where putting the ball in play will become more of a priority.”

Padres batters lead the majors with 309 strikeouts, and the Royals and Mariners are tied for the fewest at 200.