Red Sox Turn First Triple Play In 17 Years
BOSTON (AP/CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox turned their first triple play in 17 years on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
B.J. Upton and Casey Kotchman started the top of the fourth inning with singles off of Erik Bedard, who got out of the jam when Sean Rodriguez hit a hard grounder to third.
Jed Lowrie fielded it cleanly, stepped on the base and fired it to Dustin Pedroia, who got the ball off quickly to Adrian Gonzalez at first and beat Rodriguez to the bag.
"I know that Pedroia is one of the best in the business at turning it, so I knew we had a chance when he's out there," said Lowrie. "I got it to him quick and right on target, so I know if I do that I know he has a good chance at turning it."
"As soon as he caught it I knew we had a shot," said Gonzalez. "We just needed to execute the pivot from Pedey and the throw back to me and we did."
"At the time of the game it's a big play. It's first and second, nobody out. They get a chance to extend and all of a sudden the inning is over," said manager Terry Francona. "It really cuts into the pitch count. Probably gets (Bedard) and extra inning to pitch."
"It's exciting," said Lowrie. "That's one of those plays in baseball you don't get to see very often or be a part of."
It was Boston's first triple play since shortstop John Valentin turned one by himself on July 8, 1994.
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