Angels’ Zach Netto Completes Rare Triple Play Against Dodgers
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Zach Netto had never actually witnessed a triple play in person before he executed one during the Angels’ 7-6 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday night. It was quite a moment.
With his perfect positioning and skillful play, Netto managed two putouts and an assist in what turned out to be the eighth triple play in Angels history. He caught the line drive, stepped on second base to double up one runner, and then quickly threw to first base to tag the other, completing the impressive feat in mere moments.
This achievement was especially significant for Netto, considering it involved his former teammate who hit the ball. “Honestly, I think it was even more thrilling than hitting two home runs yesterday,” Netto shared, referring to his own performance against the Dodgers the day before.
“I mean, hitting home runs is great, sure,” he continued. “But there’s something really special about making a play like that, especially when one of the league’s top hitters is at the plate with no outs.” You could sense his excitement—it was palpable.
During the play, when Shohei Ohtani hit a hard drive up the middle, Netto was ready. He caught the line drive and stepped on second base to double off Miguel Rojas, who had no chance of getting back. Then he quickly fired to first, where Dalton Rushing was trying to sneak back after getting too far off the base.
Reflecting on the moment, Netto said, “I thought, ‘I better make this throw,’ because I noticed the runner at first was a bit confused, so I had to trust Nolan.” The tag happened, and Netto joked with his teammate that if he messed it up, there would be “some words” for him.
Neto had to laugh about the playful threat, but it was clear he was serious about this milestone—having never seen a triple play live before. “I’ve only seen them on YouTube or TikTok,” he admitted.
Netto’s quick thinking and accurate throw tied the game 5-5. Meanwhile, Rushing, after awkwardly stumbling to avoid the tag, ended up taking a rough fall into the dirt, but thankfully remained in the game.
The Angels’ triple play was a rare occurrence, marking only the second since 1997; the last was against Tampa Bay during Chanuel’s MLB debut. Meanwhile, the Dodgers found themselves struggling, having lost three consecutive games and falling into a tie with the San Diego Padres for the top spot in the NL West.
Despite the setback, Ohtani wouldn’t go down without a fight, later hitting a tiebreaking home run to keep the game competitive. However, the Angels responded, tying it again with a sacrifice fly from Chanuel and winning in the tenth inning thanks to a single from Joe Adele.
It’s clear the Angels have had the Dodgers’ number lately, winning all five matchups this season, which is no small feat. Looking ahead, Netto is preparing to face Ohtani again, humorously acknowledging the challenge but also ready for what’s next. “I can’t wait,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ll enjoy this win for a little while, but tomorrow, it’s game on.”
