Rizzie helps Cyclones turn first triple play

When the ball went into the air, Dan Rizzie didn't have time to think. So he let instinct carry him into New York-Penn League history.

The 22-year-old catcher combined with fellow Mets prospects Colby Woodmansee and Nick Sergakis to turn the first triple play in Class A Short Season Brooklyn's history Sunday afternoon as the Cyclones edged the Hudson Valley Renegades, 4-3, at MCU Park.

The Cyclones entered the eighth inning clinging to a one-run lead. Right-hander Justin Dunn hit Ryan Boldt and walked Jake Fraley to start the frame. The next batter, Jim Haley, got the signal to bunt and squared up the first pitch he saw.

"They were running a bunt and Justin Dunn threw a pretty nasty curveball," Rizzie said. "The kid just kind of got under it and popped it up. I just kind of reacted and ended up catching the ball."

Rizzie immediately turned toward second and he was surprised to see Boldt had wandered nearly halfway down the baseline. The 2016 13th-round pick knew he had a chance to at least turn two.

"I just saw the guy who was off pretty far," he said. "Hudson Valley has been pretty aggressive baserunning-wise the times that we've played them so far."

Rizzie's throw to Woodmansee arrived in plenty of time to nab Boldt. What he didn't expect to see was the 21-year-old shortstop turn and fire to first to get Fraley, who reacted too late to retreat back to first. His throw settled perfectly into Sergakis' glove.

"I didn't even realize the guy was off of first that much," Rizzie said with a laugh. "Colby was heads-up enough to chuck it to first."

The trifecta helped Dunn (1-0) -- the Mets' first-round pick in this year's Draft -- pick up his first professional win after issuing a pair of walks and fanning one without allowing a hit over two scoreless innings. Rizzie was happy to help his pitcher reach that milestone.

"That was awesome," the Xavier University product said. "I know he was upset about hitting the batter and the walk that he gave up. He just threw a nasty curveball and we ended up getting out of the inning. It was cool. I've never been a part of a triple play before, so that was really cool to be a part of."

As for the milestone baseball?

"I think Sergakis, after he caught it at first, gave it to our clubhouse guy," Rizzie said. "I'm sure that ball is going to be put somewhere for Cyclones history."

Brooklyn's Taylor Henry gave up a hit and a walk while fanning one over a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.

Woodmansee and Sergakis added solo homers in the first and seventh inning respectively.

Deivy Mendez (0-1) surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over 2 2/3 frames in relief of Renegades starter Spencer Moran.