Baseball fans, brace yourselves for one of the most bizarre plays you’ll ever see—a single that turned into a triple play. Yes, you read that right. In a Spring Training matchup between the Cubs and Giants that ended 4-2 in favor of San Francisco, Seiya Suzuki’s routine single to right field spiraled into chaos, leaving everyone scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was this a masterpiece of defensive strategy or a glaring example of baserunning blunders? Let’s dive in.
I wasn’t at Scottsdale Stadium that Sunday afternoon, but I can’t help but wish I’d been there to witness the madness firsthand. The game started with a jolt—literally. During the top of the first inning, a blaring beeping sound, reminiscent of a truck backing up, interrupted play. An announcement followed, urging fans to evacuate due to an unspecified incident. And this is the part most people miss: Some fans left, while others stayed put, including a few friends of mine who decided to ride it out. Meanwhile, Giants pitcher Robbie Ray seemed rattled, walking Matt Shaw and Alex Bregman. Honestly, the game should’ve paused until the glitch was resolved, but it pressed on.
With runners on first and second and no outs, Seiya Suzuki hit a bloop single to right field. Here’s where things went off the rails. Suzuki, thinking Shaw would score, took off for second base, while Bregman headed for third. But Shaw hesitated between third and home, unsure if the ball would be caught. Suzuki was easily thrown out at second, and Shaw, instead of staying put, wandered off third base, only to be tagged out as well. Bold claim: This wasn’t just a triple play—it was a masterclass in what not to do on the basepaths. The defending Giants tagged both runners, turning a simple single into a 9-3-6-5 triple play. Shaw’s mistake? Ignoring the cardinal rule: Stay on the base.
Fortunately, it’s Spring Training, and these are the kinds of learning moments players live for. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bregman leads a team meeting to break down this exact scenario. Speaking of the Cubs, Colin Rea had a solid start, tossing a clean first inning once the chaos subsided, though he gave up a run in the second. Caleb Thielbar and lefty prospect Riley Martin kept things tight, but the Giants capitalized on Martin’s fifth-inning struggles, scoring twice to take a 3-0 lead.
The Cubs had their chances—plenty of them. With nine hits and 10 walks, they left 12 runners on base, going a dismal 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. One highlight? Jung Hoo Lee’s stellar defensive play in right field, turning a fly ball into an inning-ending double play. Lee’s move to right field this season, with Harrison Bader taking over center, is a smart defensive shift for the Giants—Lee’s arm is a game-changer.
But here’s where it gets controversial: In the second inning, Dylan Carlson challenged a strike-three call and got it overturned, extending the inning. In a regular-season game, this might seem unnecessary, but in Spring Training, it’s all about testing the system. This game saw seven challenges, with four overturned—right in line with what we’d expect. Still, it raises the question: Are players overusing challenges, or is this just part of the learning curve?
As for the Cubs’ lineup, I’m surprised we haven’t seen Michael Busch, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, or Dansby Swanson in action yet. Maybe they’ll skip the long bus ride to Surprise on Monday for the Royals game, but hopefully, we’ll catch them at Sloan Park later in the week.
So, what do you think? Was the triple play a defensive masterpiece or a baserunning disaster? And are players leaning too heavily on challenges in Spring Training? Let’s hear your take in the comments!
