DETROIT — It happened in slow motion because, well, no one has seen a play quite like this in almost a century.
Matt Vierling hacked at an Aaron Nola sinker in the third inning of Monday’s game between the Phillies and Tigers. He cracked his bat in half. The ball floated into Nola’s glove. Two Tigers on base had no idea. Nola fired to first base for the second out. Bryce Harper took his time, lobbed the ball to Alec Bohm at third base, and it was done.
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A 1-3-5 triple play.
It was the first triple play in Major League Baseball this season and the first 1-3-5 triple play since July 11, 1929, according to SABR’s database.
🚨 TRIPLE PLAY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/eHmPP4ejv6
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 24, 2024
The Phillies had not turned a triple play since 2017 when Rhys Hoskins was a rookie left fielder and he initiated a 7-4-3 triple play. This was the first triple play involving a Phillies pitcher since Aug. 15, 1964, and the shortstop in the middle of that play was Ruben Amaro. His son, Ruben Amaro Jr., was in the ballpark Monday night broadcasting the game for NBC Sports Philadelphia.
You never know what you’ll see.
(Photo of Matt Vierling breaking his bat as he hits into a triple play: Rick Osentoski / USA Today)