The Washington Nationals have been involved in two catch/no catch trap plays during the 2025 season that have created interesting situations.

The Mets and Nationals played at Nationals Park on April 25, 2025 when an unusual triple play took place. It was the second triple play of the season, joining the Rockies’ trifecta on April 5th, 2025.

In the top of the fourth, the Mets had Brandon Nimmo on second and Mark Vientos on first and no outs when Jesse Winker lined to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe who caught the ball near the ground. First base umpire Alfonso Márquez ruled that Lowe made a legal catch.

One out.

Both runners attempted to advance on the play not knowing if Lowe had made the catch. Lowe fired to shortstop CJ Abrams who covered second base. This doubled-up Nimmo who never tagged-up.

Two outs.

When Vientos arrived at second base, umpire Lance Barrett made the safe sign then made the out sign after Vientos was tagged. Barrett had to initially make the safe sign because Vientos was an active runner who was yet to be retired.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza wanted the umpires to huddle. He argued that because Márquez was behind the play, one of the three other umpires might have had a better look. But Márquez said if someone saw something, they would have come to him.

Nats’ manager Dave Martinez said, “From my view, it looked like he caught it…” The Nats dugout instructed Lowe to throw to second and directed Abrams to throw to first.

Ruleball Comments

• Catch/no catch plays in the infield are not reviewable, but this was the perfect storm to argue why trapped balls in the infield should be reviewable because a triple play was called that deserved to be revisited.
• It’s quite possible that Márquez’s call would be confirmed. But the play deserved a look because any situation that creates confusion for the runners should be reviewable.
• You should understand that some appeal plays are obvious with no need to go through the formal appeal process. Example: R1 running on pitch… batter hits line drive to SS for the putout; the SS throws to first base to double-up R1. No formal appeal is necessary because it’s obvious why the shortstop is throwing to first base. But that is an appeal play.
• Therefore, the tag of the base by Abrams to appeal Nimmo and the tag of Vientos by Abrams needed no further communication. Although the video does not show Barrett making the out sign after Vientos was tagged, I can only assume he did because the play was scored 3-6. If Barrett made no out call it would have been scored 3-6-3 because Abrams threw to first.

Review of the Nats’ Triple Play

The “called” catch at first base retired Winker…One out!

The throw to shortstop CJ Abrams covering second retired Nimmo who never tagged-up. The double-up of Nimmo was in essence an appeal play with no explanation or formal appeal necessary. 

Two outs!

Second base umpire Lance Barrett’s safe sign is justified because Vientos was an active runner who was not yet retired. It’s always assumed that a runner properly touches a base or properly tags-up even if he doesn’t. The onus is on the defensive team to appeal. At the moment Vientos arrived at second base, he was safe because his status was that of an active runner who presumably had tagged-up because, as stated, it’s always assumed that a runner tags-up or touches a base.  When Vientos was tagged that was the appeal of the no tag-up. If Vientos was never tagged by Abrams, nor was he ever appealed for not tagging-up, he never would have been put out.

The tag of Vientos at 2b was the third out. A 3-6 Triple Play.

Abrams throw to first base was irrelevant because the second and third outs were recorded at second base. If Abrams never tagged Vientos, then the throw to first base would have retired Vientos for the third out and it would have been a 3-6-3 triple play, as stated.

Having two runners called out at the same base on appeal is an oddity I have never seen before.

A 7-3 Putout

Ever hear of a 7-3 putout?

The Nats and Pirates played at PNC on April 16th. In the bottom of the sixth, Tommy Pham was facing Mitchell Park with O’Neil Cruz on first base and one out. Pham lined a ball that dropped just in front of Nationals’ left fielder James Wood. Third base umpire Alex Tosi signaled safe and it was a hit.

Cruz did not get a good read on the play and hung around the first base area. After some hesitation he returned to first base where Wood fired a strike to Nats’ first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Pham did not reach the base, apparently trying to figure what was going on.

Lowe stepped on the base and then tagged Cruz. Because Lowe stepped on the base, Pham was out but Cruz was allowed to stay at first because the force was removed.

Lowe stepped on the base.

Ruleball Comments

• If Lowe tagged the runner before stepping on the base, the Nats would have completed a double play.
• Cruz could not determine if the ball was caught. If the ball was caught, Cruz would have easily been doubled-up if he attempted to advance. He had to make a split second which was difficult.
• If Pham ran through the base, Cruz would be forced out. Cruz would have to make second base safely, without the aid of an error, in order for Pham to be credited with a hit. Otherwise, Pham reaches first on a fielders choice.
  Since Lowe stepped on the bag first, the force was taken off. Pham probably did not run through the bag because he saw Cruz there and got confused.
• If both Cruz and Pham occupied first base and both were tagged, this would be a rare example of the trail runner having the right to the base because the lead runner (Cruz) was forced at the base he occupied at the start of play.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst: Angels, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and Chicago Sports Network