CHICAGO -- Paul Konerko remembers being on the field for a triple play when he made a rare start in left field for the Los Angeles Dodgers six or seven years ago.
Somewhere along the line during his Major League career, the slow-footed Konerko figured to be part of a triple play once again.
"I just thought I would be the one hitting into it," he said with a laugh.
Joe Crede / 3B
Born: 04/26/78
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Konerko was the last stop of Wednesday's around-the-horn triple play, hit into by Angels catcher Bengie Molina, with Darin Erstad on second and Tim Salmon on first in the sixth inning. Molina chopped a grounder to Joe Crede at third, who caught the ball as he was stepping on the base.
Crede turned and fired to Juan Uribe at second for the force on Salmon. Uribe fired a strike to Konerko, nailing Molina by a big margin.
"I didn't know if Joe would touch the bag at third and fire across to me," Konerko said of the triple play. "Once he went [to second], I knew we had it if they just got rid of it."
"It's unbelievable," added Uribe, who participated in the first triple play of his career. "I've seen them happen before with line drives, but not like this one."
Juan Uribe / SS
Born: 07/22/79
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Uribe always checks the hitter at the plate, in order to gauge the amount of time he has to get rid of the baseball. He knew Molina was trudging down the first-base line. Uribe also gave credit to Crede for quick thinking and a quick release at third.
In reality, Molina's lack of speed might not have had much to do with the triple play being turned. The ball couldn't have been placed any better for this rare baseball moment.
"I don't think Bengie could have hit it better with a fungo," said Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia. "It was right on the bag. You never like to see that. You don't see many of those and probably very rarely do you see a 5-4-3."
"Thank God we got that or we might still be playing," added White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen with a laugh. "We got the right man in the right place for the triple play."
Paul Konerko / 1B
Born: 03/05/76
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
The triple play was the 27th in White Sox history and the first turned since June 6, 1996, at Boston. Strangely enough, that particular triple play also went from third to second to first.
With Joe Magrane pitching, Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco both walked. Tim Naehring grounded to White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura, who stepped on third, threw to Ray Durham for the force at second and he threw to Frank Thomas at first for the final out.
Wednesday's triple play was the lone White Sox highlight during a 12-0 loss to the Angels. The crowd gave the White Sox a standing ovation as they left the field to hit in the sixth, but making history is a little harder to enjoy in the throes of a five-game losing streak.
"Yeah, that was our big highlight," Konerko said. "We had the right guy, and you couldn't have asked for a better ball for that play."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Joe Crede / 3B
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