Double play
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In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two."
The most common type of double play occurs with a runner on first base and a ground ball hit towards the middle of the Infield. A defender (generally the shortstop or second basemen) with the ball steps on second base before the runner from first arrives to force that runner out, and then throws the ball to the first baseman to force out the batter for the second out. If the ball originated with the shortstop and was then thrown to the second baseman, the play is referred to as a "6-4-3 double play", after the numbers assigned to the players in order of field position (6-shortstop, 4-second base, 3-first base; see baseball scorekeeping). Other types of double plays occur when a fly ball is hit to the outfield or a line drive is hit to the infield, and caught, but a runner on the basepaths strays too far away from his base. If the ball is thrown back to that base before the runner returns or tags up to go to the next base, the runner is out along with the batter for a double play. In a strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out double play, immediately after the batter has swung and missed at the third strike, the catcher throws out a baserunner who is attempting to steal. A rare double play that can only take place with the bases loaded is the "3-2-3 double play" - a sharp-hit ball down the first base line is fielded by the first baseman, who fires to home to force the runner coming in from third, the catcher then returns the ball to the first baseman to retire the batter. Such a double play ended the top half of the 8th inning during Game 7 of the 1991 World Series: Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek threw a Sid Bream ground ball to catcher Brian Harper to retire Lonnie Smith at home, Harper then threw back to Hrbek to retire the side. Another rare situation is the unassisted double play, which generally occurs when the second baseman or shortstop catches a soft, low line drive to retire the batter and steps on second base to force out the advancing baserunner. In the bottom half of the aforementioned 8th inning, Atlanta Braves second baseman Mark Lemke executed such a play, retiring Hrbek with the catch and stepping on the bag to retire Kirby Puckett, who had been intentionally walked to load the bases, as Hrbek's postseason performance that year had been notably poor, while Puckett had come out of the previous night's Game 6 as a conquering hero.
The ability to "make the pivot" on an infield double play, i.e. receive a throw from the third-base side, then turn and throw the ball to first in time to force-out the batsman, while avoiding being run into by the runner, is considered the key skill for a second baseman.
As of 2005 Cal Ripken, Jr. holds the major league record for most double plays grounded into in a career, with 350. He also holds the American League record for most double plays made by a shortstop. Both records are a probable consequence of his longevity as a player and the long grass at the Baltimore baseball stadia.
A triple play involves three outs during the same continuous playing action.ja:併殺 zh:双杀