Quakes turn triple play again against Sixers

Turning a triple play is unusual. Doing it twice against the same team in the same ballpark in the same season is downright bizarre.

On Tuesday at the Epicenter, Sixer Esteban Lopez hit into a 3-2-5-2-6 triple play. Lopez was out at first, then Justin Fuller was out between third and home and then Christian Lara was out trying to go from first to third on the play. Lara’s baserunning blunder turned what should’ve been a double play into a triple play.

On June 7, it was Scott Van Slyke with the baserunning blunder. That time, with runners on first and third, Bridger Hunt lined out to shortstop, and Jaime Pedroza was doubled off first. Van Slyke then inexplicably tried to tag up from third and score and was out easily. That double play went 6-3-2.

The minors are known for baserunning blunders, so you’d think it wouldn’t be so rare. But it is very rare. Yet this time, the Quakes didn’t win. Last time, the Quakes won 8-6. This time, the Sixers won 4-0.