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The speedy Span hit three triples, tying a modern major league record, and drove in five runs to help push the Minnesota Twins back into first place in the AL Central with an 11-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers.
Minnesota Twins Mike Redmond (L) and Denard Span celebrate at homeplate after they are driven home on a three run RBI single by Brendan Harrisin the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 26, 2009. St. Louis won the game 5-3. (UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt)
Span's third triple, which came in the fifth inning, cleared the bases and just missed clearing the fence for a grand slam. It bounced hard off the fence — in the tradition of the old Metrodome turf, perhaps — and rolled away from outfielder
He shares the record with many players, but only Rafael Furcal(notes) (2002), Lance Johnson (1995), Herm Winningham ('90) and Shawon Dunston ('90) have hit that many triples in a game since 1982 (h/t Baseball-Reference.com).
Ken Landreaux, 30 years ago, is the only other Twinkie to triple thrice in one game
D-Span3 said he was on the spot after Jim Thome(notes), his 39-year-old lumberjack of a teammate, hit an unlikely triple in the previous game. Span came into Tuesday with four triples this season and 21 for his career — along with 17 homers.
