The first 5-6-4-3 double play since 1995 required almost optimal conditions to transpire.
A gallant dive from Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia to deflect the ball. An instinctive Gold Glove performer like Bobby Witt, Jr. to scoop up the ball and fire a laser to second base.
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A nifty turn from Jonathan India. A balletic stretch from first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
And finally, a lumbering baserunner in Rhys Hoskins.
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes and wild celebrations a during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
Add it all up, and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the first groundball double play where every infielder touched the ball since Aug. 24, 1995, when the San Francisco Giants‘ Matt Williams, Royce Clayton, Robby Thompson and Mark Carreon pulled off the feat against the Montreal Expos’ Mike Lansing.
The rare twin killing in the bottom of the fourth inning played a key role in the Royals’ 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Starter Michael Wacha completed seven innings on 102 pitches — an outcome certainly boosted when he got two outs on a game of infield hot potato.
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With the win, the Royals improved to 5-5 while the Guardians fell to 6-5. The two teams’ three-game series is a matchup of the early leaders in the AL Central.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas City Royals pull off rare double play not seen since 1995