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Rawhide record two outs ... on a double?!

Visalia executes a rare 9-4-2 double play with perfect relay
@RobTnova24
June 10, 2023

Some might call it your typical, run-of-the-mill, 9-4-2 double play. But it wasn't even that. Single-A Visalia didn't just record two outs on the play, the outs were made on what was officially scored a double and both players were tagged out at home plate. This was special. D-backs' prospects

Some might call it your typical, run-of-the-mill, 9-4-2 double play. But it wasn't even that.

Single-A Visalia didn't just record two outs on the play, the outs were made on what was officially scored a double and both players were tagged out at home plate. This was special.

D-backs' prospects Danyer Sanabria, Manuel Pena and Christian Cerda combined on the feat for the Rawhide in a 6-4 loss to San Jose on Thursday night at Valley Strong Ballpark.

The top of the sixth inning started innocently enough with a four-pitch walk by Giants' shortstop prospect Anthony Rodriguez followed by a base knock on an 0-2 count from outfielder Tanner O'Tremba to set San Jose up with runners on first and second and no outs.

It looked like things were going to go from bad to worse in a hurry for Visalia when Jose Ramos barreled up the next offering from Josh Swales and lined a laser off the wall in right-center field.

But in reality that's when the Rawhide had the Giants right where they wanted them.

Sanabria played the carom off the wall perfectly and threw a dart to Pena, who was exactly where he was supposed to be for the cutoff. Arizona's 17th-ranked prospect then turned and threw a one-hopper a couple of feet up the third-base line from home where Cerda was perfectly positioned.

The backstop applied not one but two tags -- nearly simultaneously -- as the runners attempted to touch home plate, and the Rawhide's deficit stayed at two runs. Visalia eventually recorded the final out without yielding a run in the frame.

The play should be studied for how to execute a relay from the warning track to home. (Chef's kiss)

Rob Terranova is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobTnova24.