The Cincinnati Reds escaped a huge jam in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians thanks to the cat-like reflexes of first baseman Joey Votto. The big first baseman turned a triple player, marking the first one this season.
Eddie Rosario had reached first base on a single and then stole second. Franmil Reyes followed up with a single to set the Indians up with men on the corners and nobody out. Josh Naylor then smashed a liner at Votto who caught it on the fly, tagged Reyes trying to get back to first base, and then threw to third to double up Eddie Rosario after he failed to tag up running home. The Reds still trail 2-1, but it could have been a lot worse.
This is the 723rd triple play in major league history and the first of 2021. The most recent came last season and was turned by the Brewers against the Cardinals, coincidentally also in the eighth inning. It was a 5-4-3 triple play as Jace Peterson fielded a ball at third, stepping on the bag, threw to Keston Hirua at second, who then threw to Jedd Gyorko at first.
JOEY VOTTO TRIPLE PLAY pic.twitter.com/rfARZjoKuZ
— MLB (@MLB) April 17, 2021