Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Brewers turned the first triple play in the National League this year, pulling off the feat in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night.
Matt Kemp walked and Juan Rivera singled to left to put men on first and second. James Loney then grounded a ball just past pitcher Randy Wolf. Second baseman Josh Wilson flipped the ball directly from his glove to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who stepped on second and threw to first for two outs. First baseman Prince Fielder then wheeled and threw home, where catcher George Kottaras applied the tag on Kemp, who tried to score on a head-first slide.
It was the sixth triple play in franchise history for the Brewers, who last had one September 6, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants.
The only other triple play in the majors this year came from the Cleveland Indians, in an April 3 game against the Chicago White Sox.
There was more great defense from the Brewers in the following inning. Dioner Navarro led off with a ground-rule double to center field. Justin Sellers then singled up the middle, but center fielder Jerry Hairston Jr. threw a perfect strike to Kottaras, who tagged out Navarro on the left leg on the slide home to keep the game scoreless.
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