Zach Neto, Angels flip triple play off Shohei Ohtani liner

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto had by no means been a part of a triple play — not within the minors, not in school, not even in Little League. He’d solely ever seen them on social media. Then he turned one nearly single-handedly on Tuesday evening — in an enormous spot, in opposition to one of many sport’s greatest gamers — to generate a large momentum swing in opposition to the reigning World Sequence champs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had runners on first and second with none out and the rating tied at 5 within the high of the sixth inning when Shohei Ohtani hit a low line drive up the center. Neto, shaded nearly behind second base, caught it, instantly stepped on second to double up Miguel Rojas, who froze on contact, then fired to first base to get Dalton Speeding, the rookie catcher who appeared perplexed by the event.

The Angels went on to win 7-6 in 10 innings and moved to 5-0 in opposition to the Dodgers this season. The prior evening, Neto had set the tone in one other victory by homering twice within the Angel Stadium opener.

The triple play, in his thoughts, was higher.

“I like hitting residence runs,” Neto stated, “however making a play like that in a state of affairs the place you may have among the best hitters as much as bat, with first and second, no outs — to have the ability to make a play like that, I believe it was fairly particular.”

Neto’s triple play was solely the third within the majors this season and the primary by the Angels since Aug. 18, 2023, when a miraculous 6-4-3-2 triple play stored the sport tied within the ninth inning. Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel made the ultimate flip in that one — then made the ultimate tag on this one after fielding Neto’s throw.

“If he messed that up,” Neto stated of Schanuel, “we have been going to have some phrases.”

The triple play marked the most recent lowlight for a Dodgers staff that has been reeling for the higher a part of six weeks, going 15-20 for the reason that begin of July. Their third straight loss was coupled with the San Diego Padres’ fourth straight win, organising a tie between the division rivals for first place within the Nationwide League West — with three video games looming between them from Dodger Stadium this weekend.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman believes it is “too early” to concentrate on the standings.

“It will not be tied if we do not win video games,” Freeman stated, “in order that’s sort of our principal focus proper now.”

Ohtani did his half to make that occur. Three innings after lining into the triple play, the Dodgers’ two-way participant turned on a ninth-inning cutter from Angels nearer Kenley Jansen and despatched it out to proper area for his forty third residence run, briefly giving his staff the lead.

However the Angels got here again in opposition to an exceedingly short-handed Dodgers bullpen, manufacturing a run to power extras within the backside of the ninth and strolling it off on Jo Adell’s single within the backside of the tenth.

Subsequent up, in Wednesday’s collection finale, they’re going to face Ohtani the pitcher.

“I positively pissed him off,” Neto stated of his triple play in opposition to Ohtani. “That is OK. I obtained to face him tomorrow. I am going to simply get pleasure from this for a pair extra hours and prepare to face him.”