Cubs’ Cactus League Triple Play Stuns Spring Training

This piece recaps a quirky moment from early Cactus League action at Scottsdale Stadium. Chicago Cubs star Alex Bregman made his first base-running appearance for the club.

A breathtakingly rare 4-3-6-5 triple play unfolded. An emergency fire alarm briefly emptied the stands.

The chaotic sequence involved Seiya Suzuki, Matt Shaw, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman. What should’ve been a routine spring training inning turned into a highlight fans will remember long after the sun wears off.

Scottsdale Stadium Scene: A Cactus League Moment

The first inning had Bregman on the bases as Seiya Suzuki’s shallow popup drifted near second. Matt Shaw hesitated around third and then retreated.

Bregman advanced to third and tried to return, setting up the wild plate-running sequence. Meanwhile, an emergency alarm blared through the ballpark—later blamed on a smoker in a bathroom.

Home-plate umpire Bruce Dreckman waved for the game to continue. The alarm’s shrillness barely fazed the players, but fans definitely took notice.

The 4-3-6-5 Triple Play: A Play Called Rare

In the flashpoint of the inning, second baseman Willy Adames scooped up the relay from Rafael Devers and tagged both Bregman and Shaw. Shaw got ruled out first.

Adames then flipped to Matt Chapman, who tagged Shaw off third to finish a 4-3-6-5 sequence. That alignment? You hardly ever see it, spring training or not.

All three baserunners had reached safely, but nobody scored. The tag sequence erased the threat in one deflating moment for the Cubs and their baserunning carousel.

Alarm, Umpires, and the Final Score

Even with the interruption, play went on as the emergency alarm faded. The crowd settled back in, maybe a little rattled but still watching.

The interplay between distraction and execution added an extra layer to what was otherwise a regular spring training inning. The Cubs eventually lost 4-2 after a ninth-inning rally fizzled with a double play.

Reactions and Takeaways

Colin Rea called the start “weird,” which honestly sums it up. Bregman vowed to learn from the baserunning miscue, showing a professional approach to adjusting on the fly.

The incident quickly became fodder for social media. Clips and posts dissected the sequence and the chaotic early-morning Arizona vibe.

Oddly, Cubs’ official accounts didn’t post about the moment. Sometimes, spring training quirks become internet lore even without a nod from the team itself.

Why This Moment Matters in Spring Training

• Rare defensive sequence: You almost never see a 4-3-6-5 triple play, especially during Cactus League games. It’s the kind of thing that makes everyone stop and look twice.
• Learning opportunity for baserunning: Bregman’s early baserunning mistake stands out as a teachable moment. Spring training gives players space to mess up without the world ending—honestly, that’s kind of the point.
• Out-of-game interruptions: That fire alarm? It threw everyone off for a bit. Teams had to figure out how to keep their rhythm despite the chaos, which is just another curveball the game can throw.
• Exhibition stats caveat: Even though the play was wild, it won’t show up in official MLB triple-play stats. Spring numbers just don’t carry the same weight as what happens when the games actually count.
• Story momentum in the social era: The buzz after the play spread fast online. One weird moment suddenly had everyone talking, long before Opening Day even hits.

Scottsdale’s bizarre opening showed just how unpredictable spring training can get. Big league guys try to prep, execute, and deal with whatever pops up—while fans just sit back and soak up the weirdness of late February baseball.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Column: Chicago Cubs run themselves into a triple play on a wacky afternoon in the Cactus League