Philly Player Turns Unassisted Triple Play

Second baseman Eric Bruntlett turned an unassisted triple play to end the Philadelphia Phillies' wild 9-7 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.

It was the 15th unassisted triple play in major league history - and the second that ended a game. Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun also accomplished the feat on May 31, 1927, completing a 1-0 victory over Cleveland, according to STATS LLC.

Bruntlett's triple play preserved a win for Pedro Martinez in his return to New York and quashed a Mets rally against closer Brad Lidge.

With runners on first and second, Jeff Francoeur hit a line drive up the middle that appeared headed toward center field for a single. But both runners were stealing on the pitch, so Bruntlett was in perfect position as he moved over to cover second base.

He caught the liner easily, stepped on second to double up Luis Castillo and then turned to tag Daniel Murphy for the third out. Murphy tried to backpedal away from Bruntlett, but had nowhere to go.

A frustrated Francoeur stopped in his tracks and threw down his helmet with both hands.

"What a bizarre ending. I don't know what happened there. The game's over, so I'm happy with that," Lidge said. "That was pretty exciting. That's definitely not the way you draw it up."

The Phillies raced onto the field to congratulate Bruntlett after the stunning ending gave Lidge his 25th save in 33 chances.

It was the first unassisted triple play since Cleveland second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera turned one in the fifth inning on May 12, 2008, against Toronto.

Bruntlett, who made an error earlier in the inning, started at second because All-Star Chase Utley was rested.

Another Phillies second baseman, Mickey Morandini, turned an unassisted triple play in 1992.

It was the first time the Mets were involved in such a play.

Of the 15 unassisted triple plays in big league history, all but one came during the regular season. Cleveland second baseman Bill Wambsganss turned the rare trick in the 1920 World Series against Brooklyn.

Lidge came on in the ninth with a three-run lead, but the first two batters reached on errors.

Angel Pagan, who homered twice - including an inside-the-park shot leading off the first inning - sped all the way to third when his sharp grounder got through first baseman Ryan Howard. Pagan scored as Castillo reached on a grounder that Bruntlett bobbled for an error.

Murphy then hit an infield single up the middle that went off the glove of a sliding Bruntlett.

Martinez's return began with an at-bat - ending the Phillies' six-run first inning - after Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz hit three-run homers against Oliver Perez

The Citi Field crowd of 39,038 stood and cheered as Martinez walked to the plate in the Phillies' road gray and red uniform, a jarring sight, for sure, after he spent the past four years with the Mets. He tapped his former catcher, Brian Schneider, on the shin guard, helmet and heel with his bat before digging in.

Martinez worked the count to 3-0 and Mets manager Jerry Manuel came out to remove Perez. The move got a loud ovation, and Perez (3-4) was soundly booed as he walked off the field having thrown 47 pitches - 20 strikes - and getting just two outs.

Nelson Figueroa came on and struck out Martinez to end the 26-minute inning.

The 37-year-old Martinez's walk to the mound in the bottom half went mostly unrecognized by the stunned crowd, and he was greeted by Pagan with an inside-the-park homer.

Pagan's drive to left-center got stuck under the padding of the wall briefly. Center fielder Shane Victorino threw his hands up, looking for a ground-rule double, as Pagan slowed into third, but second base umpire Rob Drake allowed play to go on and Pagan raced home for his first career inside-the-parker and second leadoff homer of the year.

Martinez (2-0) never lived up to the $53 million contract he signed with the Mets after 2004, winning just 32 games and missing the 2006 playoffs with one of many injuries, including major shoulder surgery that limited him to just five starts in '07 - all during the September collapse.

The wiry three-time Cy Young Award winner was not offered a contract after going 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets last year - a trying season in which his father died.

He labored through six innings - and hit an RBI single - while giving up four runs and seven hits in his third start with the Phillies after signing with them as a free agent on July 15. He struck out five.

The Phillies made Martinez's job easier by jumping all over Perez from the start. Perez, who has a tender right knee, got his first out on his 29th pitch, two after giving up Werth's drive onto the terrace of the Acela restaurant in left field. After two outs, the Phillies were back on the bases and Ruiz lashed a drive down the left-field line to make it 6-0.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was ejected in the ninth after umpires reversed a call.