LG Twins turn rare triple play in Korean Series opener

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.

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]