White Sox turn triple play against Astros

HOUSTON — Get ground balls and good things will happen.

They were for White Sox right-hander Ivan Nova against the Astros Wednesday. After inducing ground plays for inning-ending double plays in the first two innings, Nova watched Yoan Moncada, Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu complete a 5-4-3 triple play in the third inning on Jake Marisnick’s sharp ground ball to Moncada at third base.

With Tony Kemp on second after a double and Robinson Chirinos on first after a hit-by-pitch, Moncada fielded Marisnick’s ground ball, took one step for an easy forceout at third and went around the horn to Sanchez and Abreu for the Sox’ first triple play since July 8, 2016, against the Braves. On this one, Marisnick was out on a close play.

In the 2016 season, the Sox turned three triple plays, including a bizarre 9-3-2-6-2-5 number against the Rangers on April 22 in Chicago.