LG Twins turn rare triple play in Korean Series opener

Baseball

Published: 08 Nov. 2023, 10:12 Updated: 14 Nov. 2023, 08:28

LG Twins turn rare triple play in Korean Series opener

Moon Bo-gyeong of the LG Twins tags out Bae Jung-dae of the KT Wiz to complete a triple play in the second inning of the opening game of the 2023 Korean Series on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The LG Twins turned what appeared to be the second triple play in Korean Series history on Tuesday in what went on to become a 3-2 loss to the KT Wiz in the opening game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul.

The play — a 2-6-4-5 between third, first and third again — came with the Twins up 2-1 after a busy first inning.

1. A screen capture from the live TV broadcast shows the moment that LG Twins catcher Park Dong-won, bottom center, throws the ball to shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, left, to kick off a triple play during the opening game of the 2023 Korean Series on Tuesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

2. LG Twins second baseman Shin Min-jae, center, receives the ball from shortstop Oh Ji-hwan to secure the second out. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

3. LG Twins' third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong tags out baserunner Bae Jung-dae to complete the triple play. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

With runners on first and second and nobody out, the Wiz's Moon Sang-chul attempted a bunt but ended up with the ball dropping right in front of home plate.

Catcher Park Dong-won jumped on the ball and threw out lead runner Jang Sung-woo at third, with shortstop Oh Ji-hwan whipping the ball across to second baseman Shin Min-jae, who was covering first, to throw out Moon.

Shin returned the ball to third, where third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong had time to tag out baserunner Bae Jung-dae, who was trying to stretch from second to third.

The play was initially ruled as a triple play, with the scorer then seemingly changing it to a double play with Bae out on a separate play. That decision was later changed back to a triple play.

Shin Min-jae of the LG Twins catches the ball at first base ahead of Moon Sang-chul of the KT Wiz to secure the second out of a triple play in the second inning of the opening game of the 2023 Korean Series on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The only other recorded triple play in Korean Series history came in Game 7 of the 2004 Korean Series between the Hyundai Unicorns and Samsung Lions.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]