Phillies turn first 1-3-5 triple play in 95 years against the Tigers

DETROIT — What began as a broken-bat pop-up back to the mound Monday night ended up as the 34th triple play turned by the Phillies in their 142-year history.

With the Phillies already leading by four runs en route to an 8-1 victory, the Tigers had runners on first and third in the third inning when former Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling hit a soft knuckler to the mound. Aaron Nola gloved it and flipped to first, where Carson Kelly had ranged too far off the base.

But Detroit’s Zach McKinstry misread the play and took off for home plate. Bryce Harper threw across the diamond to third baseman Alec Bohm, who stepped on the bag to complete the trifecta.

“After I threw it to first, I saw McKinstry running,” Nola said. “I was wondering if he maybe thought it bounced because some of the bat kind of went flying. It happened so quick. Pretty cool. I guess it’s a good way to get out of the inning.”

Score 1-3-5 — pitcher-to-first-to-third — and it was only the second triple play of its kind in baseball history. The other occurred 95 years ago, according to the SABR Triple Play Database, on July 11, 1929, when the Tigers tripled up the Red Sox.

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It marked the first triple play turned by the Phillies since Aug. 27, 2017, when Rhys Hoskins started a 7-4-3 triple play from left field against the Chicago Cubs. The Phillies won that game, 6-3.