OTD 2009: Eric Bruntlett turns a game-ending unassisted triple play, Phillies beat the Mets 9-7

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, because this is one of the coolest pieces of Phillies trivia out there. On this date back in 2009, Eric Bruntlett pulled off a game-ending unassisted triple play as the Phillies knocked off the Mets, 9-7. One man, three outs, game over. Just an absolutely absurd, once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Eric Bruntlett Game-Ending Unassisted Triple Play

On this date in 2009, Eric Bruntlett turned a game-ending unassisted triple play as the Phillies went on to defeat the Mets, 9-7. 😲

It was the second time in MLB history that a game ended in that fashion with the first being recorded by Johnny Neun in 1927. There have been 15… pic.twitter.com/VW5Pc0eiAK

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) August 23, 2026

To fully appreciate how rare this is, consider the history. Bruntlett’s play was just the SECOND time in all of MLB history that a game ended on an unassisted triple play, with the only other one coming from Johnny Neun way back in 1927.

That’s it. Two times ever and when you widen the lens, there have only been 15 unassisted triple plays total in MLB history since 1909.

That should tell you just how astronomically rare this thing is.

It happened against the Mets, which makes it even sweeter. Nothing better than a division rival being on the wrong end of a slice of baseball history.

Eric Bruntlett wasn’t exactly a household name, a utility guy who bounced around, but for one afternoon he etched himself permanently into the record books and gave Phillies fans a moment they’ll never forget.

So shoutout to Eric Bruntlett. One of the rarest plays the sport has ever seen, done in the most dramatic way possible to end a game.

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