When Atlanta catcher Tyler Flowers came to the plate with the bases loaded Wednesday, Twins coach Tony Diaz signaled third baseman Miguel Sano to back up. Sano's response: No.
"I wanted a triple play," Sano said. "I said no, I'll stay on the line [near the bag] and try to make a play. Let's go make a triple play."
What are the odds of that? Whatever you think they are — and the Twins have only turned 14 in their 59-year history — Sano believes they're a lot better when he's on the field. "In 2017, I got one in Anaheim. This year, we got one when I was on first base," Sano said. "It's just opportunity."
Flowers provided that. He fouled off a fastball, then chopped a low cutter sharply down the third-base line. And right to Sano.
Who had already told second baseman Jonathan Schoop, during a mound conference between starter Martin Perez and pitching coach Wes Johnson, of his plans.
"Sano told me, 'If I get it, I'm going to do it,' " Schoop said. " 'The catcher is running, so do it.' "
Actually, Johnson had instructed Sano to try to get a double play, rather than throwing home to cut off a run. But Sano wasn't going to settle for two outs. "I say, 'Why not?' " Sano said. " 'We can make it.' "
He did. Sano grabbed the grounder, took one step and touched third base, then zipped a perfect throw to Schoop at second. "Schoopie, he [got] a bazooka down there," Sano said, and Flowers was out by two steps at first base, a third inning-ending triple play.