Heat wave: Brewers' Parra enjoying July to remember
There is still some time left in the month, but Gerardo Parra is having a July for the ages in Milwaukee Brewers history.
According to STATS Inc., Parra has the best batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.780) and OPS (1.257) for any Brewers player ever in July.
Parra has played 16 games in July with 13 starts and he got in at least one at-bat in 15 of those contests (the other came as a late-inning defensive replacement). Parra is hitless just once -- and 0 for 1 on July 7 -- and has had multiple hits 10 times, including two three-hit games. From July 1-6, Parra had six consecutive multiple-hit games.
In July, Parra has 11 extra-base hits -- five doubles, two triples and four home runs -- and has scored 16 runs and driven in 10.
With nine days -- and games -- left in the month, Parra has a chance to cement his place in Brewers history, and also make himself even more valuable in trade talks, as his name has been bandied about in trade deadline speculation.
Parra's on-base percentage in July is .478, which is the third-best mark in July in Brewers history. The top mark was set by Ted Savage in 1970 -- the first season for the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Savage had been acquired by the Brewers from Cincinnati in April 1970 for cash. Milwaukee's manager, Dave Bristol, had managed the Reds in 1969, and likely had some influence on bringing Savage over.
Unlike Parra, Savage's July started with him on the bench. His last start came June 17 and from July 1-17 he had appeared in only seven games with eight plate appearances, thanks in part to a groin injury. His only hit in that span was a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 12th inning in the second game of a July 7 doubleheader.
But with left fielder Danny Walton struggling, Savage got back into the starting lineup. In 13 games from July 18-31, Savage recorded a .409 batting average, .509 on-base percentage and .591 slugging percentage. Highlights included going 3 for 5 with a double at Boston on July 18, 3 for 3 with two walks and a home run at New York on July 22 and 3 for 4 with three runs and a walk versus Boston on July 24.
For the month, Savage reached base in 31 of his 62 plate appearances (19 hits, 11 walks and a hit by pitch), for the .500 July record.
Savage would finish the year batting .279 with a team-high .402 on-base percentage and .482 slugging percentage, good for second on the club, in 114 games (343 PA).
Despite his fine season, Savage turned 34 in 1971 and a youth movement was underway in Milwaukee. He played in just 14 games with 22 plate appearances (176/364/176) before being dealt to Kansas City, where his major-league career ended after just another 19 games.
But 45 years later Savage's name remains in the Brewers record books (at least for now), and thanks to Parra, we get another chance to remember that stellar month of July in 1970.
