Nationals’ Turner hits for the cycle in victory
Trea Turner thought three bags the moment he made contact. So did everyone else in the ballpark.
Turner completed his record-tying third career cycle by hitting a sixth-inning triple for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, accomplishing the feat on his 28th birthday in a 15-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The speedy shortstop became the fifth player in major league history with three cycles, joining Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman, Bob Meusel and John Reilly, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“I’m thinking triple out of the box,” Turner said of his last hit, which he drove to the right-field wall, “and just hoping that he doesn’t pick it up right away and get it in before I usually make my decision.”
As Turner’s fourth hit of the day sailed down the line, the crowd rose immediately in expectation of a play at third.
And the Rays were prepared. Manuel Margot hit cutoff man Mike Brosseau. The second baseman’s relay was true.
But Turner narrowly beat Yandy Diaz’s tag with a headfirst slide.
“Everybody was standing up,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez of his dugout. “They were all practically wanting to go on the field. And when he was safe, there was a loud cheer . ... I love watching him run.”
Turner joins a club that is as old-fashioned as it is exclusive.
Aside from Beltre, the others with three cycles got them before the mid-1930s.
Turner singled in the first off Tampa Bay opener Drew Rasmussen, doubled in the third against Ryan Sherriff (0-1), then hit his 14th homer in the fourth off Michael Wacha.
Ryan Zimmerman pinchhit in the seventh for Turner, who jammed his finger on his slide but is day-to-day. INDIANS’ NAYLOR TO HAVE SURGERY ON LEG >> Cleveland Indians outfielder Josh Naylor sustained multiple leg fractures and torn ligaments in his violent collision with rookie second baseman
Ernie Clement during a game Sunday in Minnesota. The team said Naylor visited foot and ankle specialist Dr. Mark Berkowitz at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. Berkowitz confirmed the diagnosis and scheduled surgery for Friday to address the severe injuries.
A more definitive time frame for Naylor’s recovery will be made after the operation, but he’s likely to miss the rest of 2021.
Naylor’s foot got trapped underneath him after he charged in and slammed into Clement while the teammates tried to catch a fly ball in short right field. Upon impact, Naylor was sent sprawling and his lower leg was bent back awkwardly.
Naylor played right field and first base and was batting .253 with seven homers and 21 RBIs before getting hurt.
METS RELIEVER BETANCES TO HAVE SURGERY ON SHOULDER >> New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances will have surgery on his right shoulder and miss the remainder of the year after pitching just once this season. Betances gave up one run in one inning against Philadelphia on April 7 and was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day with a right shoulder impingement. EX-METS GM PORTER SUSPENDED >> Fired New York Mets general manager Jared Porter was suspended by Major League Baseball through at least the end of the 2022 regular season following an investigation that began after a report that he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 while he was working for the Chicago Cubs.