Red Sox turn triple play

8/16/2011

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox turned their first triple play in 17 years on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

B.J. Upton and Casey Kotchman started the top of the fourth inning with singles off of Erik Bedard, who got out of the jam when Sean Rodriguez hit a hard grounder to third.

Jed Lowrie fielded it cleanly, stepped on the base and fired it to Dustin Pedroia, who got the ball off quickly to Adrian Gonzalez at first and beat Rodriguez to the bag.

It was Boston's first triple play since shortstop John Valentin turned one by himself on July 8, 1994.