Baseball's 2011 season has its first rare feat: the Cleveland Indians have turned the year's first triple play, and it's also tied an MLB record for the earliest triple play in a season. Here's how it went down, via ESPN's play-by-play:
Cleveland Indians Turn Triple Play On White Sox, Tie MLB Record
A Ramirez bunt popped into triple play, first to shortstop to second, C Quentin out at second, A Pierzynski out at first.
So, uh, Alexei Ramirez bunted a ball up into the air, and then the Indians whipped it around to first and second to catch runners Carlos Quentin and A.J. Pierzynski off guard? That sounds like a play the Indians would make on the basepaths. Hit the jump for a better description.
It was a bunt and run...
(Carlos) Santana made a diving catch, threw to the SS who was covering second, who threw to the second baseman covering firstThat’s from commenter MikeLew. Thanks for that, Mike.
In seriousness, we haven’t seen video of the Indians’ triple play just yet, but it’s likely not long until it hits the Internet (and we’ll have it when the Internet does!), and the record’s the thing, here. UPDATE: MLB has posted the triple play video. Carlos Santana really does make a great play on the diving catch, and the White Sox on the bases, running on the bunt, are woefully unprepared for the need to tag up.
According to SABR's triple play compendium, today's triple play ties the MLB record for earliest triple play in a season, matching one turned by the Kansas City Royals on April 3, 1996. It's also the 31st triple play in Indians franchise history, their first since 2008, and only the 72nd triple play turned in the month of April.
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