SerpApi.Org
You don’t see defensive plays like this very often.
A pair of innings in MLB action July 21 ended in wild fashion. One of them resulted in the first triple play of 2026, the other in a game-ending double play thanks to some highly questionable baserunning.
Marlins Triple Play
The triple play was more beauty than beast. The Miami Marlins needed just five seconds of action of turn the league’s first three-out sequence of the season.
Related: Brewers, Yankees, Sox Eyeing Reid Detmers Ahead of Trade Deadline
In the eighth inning, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes led off with back-to-back singles. Then Jose Altuve came to the plate.
Altuve grounded a Zach Brzykcy pitch to third baseman Leo Jimenez. He immediately stepped on the base, whipped the ball to Xavier Edwards at second, who then fired it to Kyle Stowers at first, getting Altuve by a step.
“It’s cool to be a part of,” Stowers said. “It’s one of those moments that you don’t see a whole lot on the baseball field. Even though my end of the play was probably the easiest, it was cool to be a part of.”
More From Lindy's Sports:
- MLB Owners Unified On Need For Salary Cap
- Nationals Face Major Decision Ahead of Trade Deadline
- Time For Blue Jays To Trade Closer
Houston got the final laugh, however, beating Miami 5-3 and handing the Marlins their eighth loss in a row.
Crazy End In Dodgers-Phillies
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on a Phillies baserunning meltdown to seal a 2-1 win and retake the best record in baseball.
The Phillies had J.T. Realmuto on second base and Justin Crawford on third with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Brandon Marsh hit a soft grounder to third baseman Max Muncy. Confusion on the contact play led to a chaotic rundown: Muncy threw to catcher Dalton Rushing, who chased Crawford back toward third before flipping to shortstop Mookie Betts for the tag, and first out of the sequence.
Realmuto inexplicably got off third and ran back to second, allowing Betts to throw to Tommy Edman for the final out in a 5-2-6-4 double play. The Dodgers held on, 2-1, surpassing the Brewers for the best record after Milwaukee's loss to the Mets.
“Just a bad baserunning play,” Realmuto admitted. “A lapse in judgment.”
