When you envision a triple play, you probably think of two kinds: a rocket liner at an infielder with runners on and in motion, or a hard grounder right at third base with runners on first and second.
And don’t get me wrong, those are supremely enjoyable plays to watch. The confluence of circumstance, the right kind of batted ball, and perfect execution make them extremely rare.
But last night the White Sox pulled off a triple play against the Rangers nothing like one you’ve ever seen:
If you’re scoring that one at home (why are doing that right now?), it went 9-3-2-6-2-5. One fewer digit and I would have thought it was a California zip code.
That was the first time in history that a triple play had been turned 9-3-2-6-2-5 (ESPN Stats & Info), thus confirming that you’ve never seen a triple play like that, except perhaps in a beer league softball game. Which, incidentally, is kinda how that play looked.