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Philadelphia Phillies Force Detroit Tigers Into Triple Play Not Seen in 95 Years

Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling hit into a triple play against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, making a historic lowlight in the process.

Sam Connon

Jun 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Jun 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Detroit Tigers went down 4-0 early to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, but they were in prime position to make a major dent in the deficit.

And then, just like that, they weren't.

Zack McKinstry and Carson Kelly were on the corners with nobody out, and it was up to center fielder Matt Vierling to take advantage of the opportunity. Instead, Vierling got handcuffed by an inside slider, broke his bat, and sent a soft line drive back to the mound.

Starting pitcher Aaron Nola caught the ball with ease, then tossed it over to first before Kelly could return to the bag. McKinstry had abandoned third as well, so Bryce Harper made a leisurely throw over to Alex Bohm at third.

McKinstry had already crossed home plate, so Bohm was hardly in any rush to catch him tagging.

The Tigers had hit into a triple play, erasing any chance they had to put runs on the board in that third inning.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, it marked the first 1-3-5 triple play since July 11, 1929. In that instance, the Tigers forced the Boston Red Sox into the unique triple play.

There have now been 736 triple plays in MLB history, according to Baseball Almanac, 28 of which Detroit has hit into. This is their first since Aug. 3, 2017, and the first the league has seen in the 2024 season.

Detroit did end up scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Harper hit a home run in the sixth to make it a 7-1 ballgame.

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Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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