A triple play is rare. An unassisted triple play is still rarer. An unassisted triple play that ends a game? That's the rarest, you have to admit.How rare? It was only the second time in major league baseball history that a game had ended on an unassisted triple play. The last time it happened was May 31, 1927, when Tigers first baseman John Neun did it against Cleveland.
An unassisted triple play, if you're not sure, means you account for all three outs yourself. No throwing the ball to someone else; you do it all on your own.
The New York Mets had rallied from a six-run deficit against the Philadelphia Phillies when the unassisted triple play ended their hopes. They had already scored one run and had the tying runs on base with no one out.
Here's how the unassisted triple play was set up: Ryan Howard at first base let a grounder go through his legs for a three-base error. Immediately, another error: Eric Bruntlett booted Luis Castillo's grounder and Pagan scored to make it 9-7. Castillo was at first.
Next on the setup for the unassisted triple play, Daniel Murphy reached first on an infield single. There's some disagreement here as some are saying it was another error by Bruntlett.
Jeff Francoeur came up. Castillo and Murphy ran on the pitch, and Francoeur drilled one up the middle. Making up for his error, Bruntlett snagged it at second base, stepped on the base for the second out on Castillo and tagged Murphy who was running to second for the final out.
Sweet, though definitely unlucky. Definitely rare, however. You can watch it below.
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