In the nearly 120 seasons of modern professional baseball, there exist some incredibly prestigious clubs.
Of players who have hit 500 or more home runs, there are but 27. Only 23 have pitched a perfect game. And a mere 16 have won the Triple Crown.
Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies is among an even more rare exclusive fraternity thanks to the events of this date in 2007.
With runners on first (Edgar Rentería) and second (Kelly Johnson), Tulowitzki caught a line drive struck by Chipper Jones, stepped on second base and tagged the approaching runner for just the 13th unassisted triple play in MLB history.
The rare feat in the seventh inning was actually the second triple play for Colorado – April 10, 2003 marked the first occurrence, courtesy of Todd Helton and José Hernández – in what is presently four in franchise history (also: May 18, 2014 and September 1, 2015).
Thanks to Tulo’s defensive gem, the score stayed 5-5. Careful to not waste the historic play, the Rockies scored two in the ninth before Matt Holliday launched a two-run, walk-off homer to send the Coors Field faithful with an even larger smile upon their collective faces.
Free Base(s)
Tulowitzki’s unassisted triple play game also featured another notable event.
Following a first-inning single during Colorado’s 9-7 win over Atlanta at home, Todd Helton became the last Rockies hitter to walk five times in a game in 2007.
There’s Only One First
Fresh off an 0-for-3 MLB debut, 22-year-old Nolan Arenado shook it off to record his first big league hit and first home run to go 3-for-4 in his first game at Dodger Stadium in 2013.
Glove Nazty
After making his second error of the season the night before, Charlie Blackmon quietly begins the longest consecutive errorless game streak in a season (121). The historic mark would last until his third and final error of the year on September 18, 2015.
The Freshman
Trevor Story finishes his first month in the majors by mashing his 10th home run of 2016, tying an MLB record set by Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu for most homers by a rookie in the month of April.
Fun Fact
With an RBI-double in the fifth inning, Andrés Galarraga sets the National League record for runs batted in during the month of April with his 30th in 1994. (The following day’s game at Wrigley Field on April 30 was postponed.)
On This Day In Baseball History
In 1918, Hall of Fame Tris Speaker successfully executes his fourth unassisted double play of his career while patrolling shallow center field in Cleveland’s 8 – 4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
