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Today in Royals history: Double Play times six

April 30, 2009

Imagine seeing six of these.
Imagine seeing six of these.
Patrick Smith

Five years ago today, the Royals played host to the Toronto Blue Jays. Kyle Davies started that contest. As we all fondly recall, Davies would allow base runners. A lot of base runners.

With base runners, comes an opportunity for a double play. In the contest on April 30, 2009, the Royals turned six of them. That's right. Six double plays in one game.

Witness:

Top of the 1st
Alex Rios singles with one out.
Vernon Wells grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

Top of the 2nd
Adam Lind and Kevin Millar leadoff the inning with back to back singles.
Jose Bautista grounds into a 1-6-3 double play.

Top of the 3rd
Marco Scutaro leads off with a single.
Aaron Hill grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

Top of the 4th
Vernon Wells leads off with a walk.
With one out, Millar grounds into a 4-3 double play.

Top of the 7th
The first three batters reach against Ron Mahay.
Jamey Wright enters the game with runners on first and second.
Scutaro grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

Top of the 8th
Two runs score on a Bautista home run.
Millar walks.
Raul Chavez grounds into an inning-ending 6-3 double play.

Count 'em. Six double plays. That remains an American League record. The Royals were the 12th team in AL history to turn six in a nine inning game. Here's the great thing. The Royals themselves hit into six double plays the previous week in Cleveland. Somehow, that just seems such a Royals thing to do.