The Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons fell to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, 7-5, on Friday, but it wasn’t without some excitement in the top of the ninth inning.
After the first two runners reached base via walk, TinCaps No. 3 hitter Matthew Acosta lined a single to center field that was fielded by Ismael Alcantara.
Alcantara quickly fielded the ball and fired it to shortstop Eddys Leonard, who chased down Jarryd Dale trying to advance to third. Leonard then threw out Ripken Reyes at the plate as he was trying to score.
After tagging out Reyes, catcher Ryan January threw a strike to second baseman Max Hewitt, who did the same to third baseman Jorbit Vivas as Acosta was trying to advance to third.
It's the first MiLB triple play of the year!
And the @greatlakesloons make it a good one 👀
An 8-6-2-4-5 gem by the @Dodgers prospects. pic.twitter.com/WO6S4x8VaQ
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 4, 2022
Acosta then got into a pickle as Vivas threw to Alcantara at second base, who ran in from center field. Alcantara ultimately tagged out Acosta to complete a rare 8-6-2-4-5 triple play.
It was the first triple play of the 2022 Minor League Baseball season. The Loons went on to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but their comeback bid fell just short.
Dodgers top prospect Cartaya promoted to Loons
Although he wasn’t in the Loons lineup on Friday, Dodgers top prospect Diego Cartaya was recently promoted to Great Lakes.
The 20-year-old hit .260/.405/.550 with nine home home runs, 31 RBI and 31 runs scored in 33 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga before getting called up. Cartaya also posted a 14.1% walk rate, which is an encouraging sign that shows his knowledge of the strike zone.
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