The Philadelphia Phillies are taking on the Detroit Tigers in the first of three games at Comerica Park on Monday night.
The Phillies put up an early 4-0 lead at the close of the first inning with back-to-back doubles by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, followed by a two-run bomb by Alec Bohm. Phillies continue to bludgeon their opponents in the first few innings of games.
Phillies turn the easiest triple play you'll ever see against hapless Tigers
Until the bottom of the third inning, Aaron Nola had kept the Tigers hitless in two frames with three strikeouts. He then surrendered back-to-back singles to Zach McKinstry and Carson Kelly to put runners on first and third base, with the Tigers threatening to finally score against Nola.
Aaron Nola caught a break and took matters literally into his own hands after a nice snag on the mound and a couple of throws to finish off the bottom of the scoreless frame.
Ex-Phillie Matt Vierling stepped to the plate looking to put pressure on Nola and the Phillies. Vierling, on an 0-1 sinker, lined a ball back to Nola on the mound, which the Phillies starter caught. Kelly was dead in the water with his healthy lead at first base and some utter confusion had McKinstry at third sprinting towards home.
Harper set his feet and tossed the ball to third base to complete one of the easiest and most bizarre triple plays you'll see on a baseball diamond.
🚨 TRIPLE PLAY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/eHmPP4ejv6
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 24, 2024
A triple play is an oddity in baseball, and a 1-3-5 triple play is even more rare — this was the first in 95 years, which also happened in Detroit. It was also the first Phillies triple play since 2017. A double play is a pitcher's best friend, but a Phillies triple play must be everyone's best friend.
The Phillies came into the game 51-26 with a MLB-best .662 winning percentage, while the Tigers have been sinking in the AL Central at 36-41.
Nola started the game looking to bounce back after a rough couple of starts as he gave up a combined 11 earned runs against the Red Sox and Padres. Nola had a 3.54 ERA entering play and is looking to settle back in and join the rest of the Phillies' starting rotation as the best in the majors.