Angels flip uncommon triple play not seen in additional than half-century

ANAHEIM — When the Angels wanted it most, they turned a triple play not seen within the Major Leagues in additional than a half-century.

With runners on the corners and none out in a tie sport in opposition to the Rays within the ninth inning, their infield protection delivered.

The Angels turned a 6-4-3-2 triple play behind reliever Carlos Estévez, holding their collection opener in opposition to the Rays tied on Friday night time at Angel Stadium, although they ended up shedding in 10 innings, 9-6. It was the primary such triple play within the Majors in additional than a half-century, since 1971, in keeping with the triple play database maintained by the Society for American Baseball Research.

Harold Ramírez didn’t make it simple on Estévez, fouling off 5 pitches in a seven-pitch at-bat. But he grounded the final one to shortstop Luis Rengifo, who flipped the ball to Brandon Drury at second base to power out Randy Arozarena. Drury then fired the ball to debuting rookie Nolan Schanuel at first base for the second out, at which level Yandy Díaz took off from third to attempt to rating the go-ahead run.

But Schanuel noticed the play unfolding and threw the ball to catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who tagged out Díaz to finish the seventh triple play in Angels historical past. The Rays challenged the calls at each first and residential, however they have been upheld after a replay evaluation.

“Drury made a good play, watched the runner from third and he froze,” Schanuel mentioned. “He made a good throw to first. Right when he threw it to me, [Díaz] took off. I just saw it out of the peripheral, turned and made a good throw. O’Hoppe saved me on that one by putting a good tag on it as well.”

It was the primary triple play by the Angels since July 5, 1997, in opposition to Seattle, making them the crew that had gone the longest since their final triple play. Meanwhile, the Rays hit right into a triple play for the fourth time in franchise historical past, having most lately accomplished so on April 17, 2014.

The final time a participant in his MLB debut was a part of a triple play was Sal Fasano in 1996, in Kansas City’s sport at Baltimore.

Said Díaz: “Hopefully, the second baseman either didn’t see me, and then after he made the throw, that hopefully the first baseman was going to make a bad throw. But you know, obviously everything turned out pretty well for them.”

Neither O’Hoppe nor Schanuel have been born the final time the Angels had a triple play.

“Nolan made a hell of a throw,” O’Hoppe mentioned. “For him to keep his composure like that and make a throw like that was pretty impressive. It was really cool. I didn’t know I held on to the ball, but it was in my glove. I have it with me now.”

A particular memento certainly.