One man, one play, three outs

Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini pulls off the National League’s first unassisted triple play in 66 years and just the ninth in major league history 31 years ago today in Philadelphia’s 3-2, 13-inning loss at Pittsburgh.

Morandini accomplishes the feat behind pitcher Curt Schilling in the bottom of the sixth inning before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 21,652.

With runners Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke moving on the pitch from first and second, Morandini dives his right to catch Jeff King’s line drive up the middle, steps on second base to easily double up Van Slyke and then tags out Bonds as he approaches second from first.

The last National League player before Morandini to turn an unassisted triple play is Johnny Cooney of the Chicago Cubs in 1927.

Since Morandini’s feat – the first ever by a Phillie – the game has seen six unassisted triple plays.

The most recent coming in 2009 with Phillies second baseman Eric Bruntlett, who snares a line drive by the Mets’ Jeff Francoeur to start the play that ends a 9-7 victory over New York at Citi Field.

Morandini’s play may be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuCGGOi7Ahk

“It really happened so fast, it didn’t hit me until I got to the dugout,” Morandini says after the game. “Then I realized I’d done something few people have done.”