Mariners pull off unusual triple play against the Blue Jays

The Seattle Mariners turned a Toronto base-running blunder into a unique triple play in the fourth inning Sunday with catcher Mark Zunino recording the final two putouts.

With the Blue Jays leading 4-3, Ezequiel Carrera walked to open the fourth and moved to third on Kevin Pillar’s single to left.

Ryan Goins bounced out to first baseman Mark Trumbo, with Pillar hung up between first and second. Trumbo threw to shortstop Brad Miller at second, while Carrera broke too far down the line from third.

As Miller ran across the infield toward to pin Carrera between third and home, Pillar continued around toward third base.

Miller threw home to Zunino, who ran Carrera back to third, which already was occupied by Pillar.

Because, by rule, the base belongs to the original runner, Zunino tagged out Pillar. Carrera then stepped off the bag, and he also was tagged out by Zunino to end the inning.

Etc.

Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross pitched a perfect ninth in the Cubs’ 11-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Ross he came up to bat to start the bottom of the ninth and hit a solo home run to become the first Cubs reliever to homer since Carlos Marmol did against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 7, 2006.