Triple This

[gonzai]

The other day, http://gonzai55.livejournal.com/119598.html . Well, a friend has since pointed out to me that I saw one other triple play. And I can't imagine how I forgot that one, because it was bizarre.

How bizarre? Well, I'll give you the official scoring on this triple play, and let you all theorize as to how the heck this went down. I'll give the answer in a couple days.

This game happened in the late 90s, in Bowie, between the Baysox and the New Britain Rock Cats (they may have been the Hardware City Rock Cats at the time, but based in New Britain regardless.) Bowie turned an 8-2 triple play against the Rock Cats. That is, centerfield to catcher. That's it. That's all. Ponder as you wish.

Comments

[cyanne]

I used to keep score and I love things like this. You better post the answer though, it's driving me crazy. *g* First out had to be fly out to center. Second was the tag at the plate, but I'm not sure about the third. Catcher make the tag at the plate and then tag another guy coming in (or tag him as he tried to go back to third?) I"m jealous, I've never seen a triple play or a no hitter.

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

You got the first part right - fly out to center. Bases were loaded, batter flew out to center, center was on the run and unleashed a bullet to the plate. Runners on second and third both tagged up; runner from third sees the throw and realizes he's dead meat. He turns around AND GOES BACK TO THIRD, where the runner from second is already standing. With both guys standing on the bag, the catcher tags them both. The umpire signals out - two men can't be on the bag at the same time, therefore, the runner not entitled to the base - the guy from second - is out. The runner from third, who is safe, thinks HE'S the one who's out, and steps off the bag. Catcher tags him again. Out number three. If you weren't a Rock Cats fan, it was hilarious.

I used to go to 100 games a year, so I've seen three triple plays, one hit-for-cycle, two perfect games and I've lost count of the no-hitters, probably 8 or 9, depending on how you count them. Once I showed up in the sixth inning for game 1 of doubleheader and caught the end of a no-no; another time I was so stuck in traffic trying to go to Hagerstown, I gave up and went home. The Suns were no-hit that night. I also watched a guy throw a nine inning no-no and give up a hit in the tenth inning. Ouch. One perfect game was in low-A, one no-hitter in high-A, and everything else at AA.

[cyanne]

Ah, like the old joke about the Brooklyn Dodgers having three guys on base and the fan asking which one? Very cool, would have loved to have seen it. Smart catcher, good for him. Thanks for writing it out for me.

We should go to a game sometime. I used to go to the Baysox and Keys all the time but it's been years.

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. They're both out of town next weekend (they're *always* home Shore Leave week, which drives me nuts) but both home the week after. I'll e-mail you after we both recover from Shore Leave.

[cyanne]

My July is crazy so it might have to be August. I'm gone the next three weeks, Pros con and then two weekends of concerts but I hope we can find a time after that. Good to see you at Shoreleave, even if it was only in passing.