Angels turn rare triple play not seen in more than half-century

ANAHEIM -- When the Angels needed it most, they turned a triple play not seen in the Major Leagues in more than a half-century.

With runners on the corners and none out in a tie game against the Rays in the ninth inning, their infield defense delivered.

The Angels turned a 6-4-3-2 triple play behind reliever Carlos Estévez, keeping their series opener against the Rays tied on Friday night at Angel Stadium, though they ended up losing in 10 innings, 9-6. It was the first such triple play in the Majors in more than a half-century, since 1971, according to the triple play database maintained by the Society for American Baseball Research.

Harold Ramírez didn’t make it easy on Estévez, fouling off five pitches in a seven-pitch at-bat. But he grounded the last one to shortstop Luis Rengifo, who flipped the ball to Brandon Drury at second base to force out Randy Arozarena. Drury then fired the ball to debuting rookie Nolan Schanuel at first base for the second out, at which point Yandy Díaz took off from third to try to score the go-ahead run.

But Schanuel saw the play unfolding and threw the ball to catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who tagged out Díaz to complete the seventh triple play in Angels history. The Rays challenged the calls at both first and home, but they were upheld after a replay review.

“Drury made a good play, watched the runner from third and he froze,” Schanuel said. “He made a good throw to first. Right when he threw it to me, [Díaz] took off. I just saw it out of the peripheral, turned and made a good throw. O’Hoppe saved me on that one by putting a good tag on it as well.”

It was the first triple play by the Angels since July 5, 1997, against Seattle, making them the team that had gone the longest since their last triple play. Meanwhile, the Rays hit into a triple play for the fourth time in franchise history, having most recently done so on April 17, 2014.

The last time a player in his MLB debut was part of a triple play was Sal Fasano in 1996, in Kansas City’s game at Baltimore.

Said Díaz: “Hopefully, the second baseman either didn’t see me, and then after he made the throw, that hopefully the first baseman was going to make a bad throw. But you know, obviously everything turned out pretty well for them.”

Neither O’Hoppe nor Schanuel were born the last time the Angels had a triple play.

“Nolan made a hell of a throw,” O’Hoppe said. “For him to keep his composure like that and make a throw like that was pretty impressive. It was really cool. I didn’t know I held on to the ball, but it was in my glove. I have it with me now.”

A special souvenir indeed.