Miami Marlins Turn Historic Double Play to Save a Run Against the New York Mets

Thanks to Derek Hill and Jesús Sánchez's stellar chemistry in the outfield, the Miami Marlins turned an 8-9-4-2 double play and escaped the first inning without allowing a run to the New York Mets.

Aug 18, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Nick Fortes (4) tags out New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) at home plate during the first inning at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins entered Sunday's showdown with the New York Mets looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of their divisional foes.

In the very first inning of the matinee contest, it looked like the Mets were about to take a commanding lead and bury the Marlins then and there.

Mark Vientos singled up the middle, then Brandon Nimmo drew a walk. With men on first and second and only one out, All-Star slugger Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate.

Alonso crushed a high fastball to right-center, sending it 390 feet to the warning track. Center fielder Derek Hill tracked it down to make the catch, though, crashing into the wall to rob Alonso of an extra-base hit.

Vientos was ready to tag up, and he left second base with his sights set on home plate.

Without hesitation, Hill flipped the ball to right fielder Jesús Sánchez, who relayed it into second baseman Otto Lopez. Lopez then rifled the ball to catcher Nick Fortes, who lunged and tagged out Vientos just before he crossed home plate.

The Marlins had completed an 8-9-4-2 double play, escaping the inning without any damage. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs and the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first 8-9-4-2 double play since at least 1900.

this is the first time an 8-9-4-2 double play has happened since at least 1900!

h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/5OCK4wDZlt

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 18, 2024

Hill was due up first in the top of the second, and he went down swinging. In the top of the third, though, Lopez led things off with a triple and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Fortes.

And RBI single from Francisco Lindor and a home run by Nimmo put the Mets on top 2-1, but Hill scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to make it a 2-2 ballgame.

Hill came through with an RBI single in the top of the eighth that proved to be the difference, as Miami went on to win 3-2. Had Alonso's first-inning line drive found the gap, or had Hill not flipped the ball to Sánchez, New York likely would have scored multiple runs in that inning and wound up winning the contest.

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