Triple Play and Stuff

In the 400+ games I have seen since 2006, I had never seen a Triple Play. Well, lo and behold, last week, I finally saw one.

Here's the situation: Bottom of the first between Lake Elsinore and Inland Empire in San Bernardino. The 66ers had runners on first and second with no one on. The hit-and-run was put on, so with the runners going on the pitch, 66ers batter Taylor Ward hit a line drive to the second baseman. He flipped it to second, then the shortstop threw it to first. Bang, bang, bang...Triple Play.

So, in one season, I've seen an Immaculate Inning and a Triple Play. Unlike the Immaculate Inning, however, I recognized it immediately after it happened. What was weird was that it seemed everyone in the stadium recognized that it did happen, but we all didn't really believe what we saw, myself included. My initial reaction was "Wow! A Triple Play!?!? Did that really just happen?"

Outside of that, and the few 66ers games, things have been kind of slow on the baseball front. My parents have been in town for the past two weeks, and I have been spending as much time as I can with them. They’re moving to China for nine months in a few days, so we’ve been making sure to see as many relatives as we can. They have promised me to make a visit to the Chinese Baseball League stadium in Chengdu and pick up some novelties for my baseball shelf. 

For this weekend, I will finally achieve a significant milestone as I will finally see the Boston Red Sox play a regular season game. Strangely enough, the Red Sox and Marlins are the only two teams in Major League Baseball I have NOT seen in a regular season game. I did see the Red Sox in an exhibition game against the Nationals when I was in DC back in 2010, but that's not regular season. It's also significant in that it will be David Ortiz's final game in Anaheim against the Angels. Like the "Derek Jeter Retirement Tour" from a few years ago, Ortiz is being honored at all the ballparks this season as his retirement will be coming at the end of the season.

Guess that's kind of an update on my travels for baseball as July comes to a close. August promises to be a little more busier, but I'll save that post for another day! 

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)