We’ll start in New York where the Mets were taking on their heated division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.  Tensions were high both on and off the field the entire weekend, and on Sunday it looked like the Phils would take their second game in a row going into the ninth.  That’s when things got interesting.

With the Mets at bat, down 9-6, no outs and Pagan on third base, Luis Castillo grounded a ball to second, but Eric Bruntlett couldn’t handle it and Castillo would beat out a late throw.  Daniel Murphy stepped to the plate next and it was deja vu all over again.  A grounder to Bruntlett which he once again could not handle.  The tying run was now on base and a nightmare was unfolding right in front of the Phillies’ second baseman’s eyes, but it didn’t seem as though he could do anything about it.

And then it happened.

A line drive off the bat of Francoeur headed to Bruntlett at second base.  With the runners going, he made the catch for one out, touched second for another, and tagged Murphy who was caught in a hit-and-run.  One man, three outs.  It was only the 15th unassisted triple play in Major League history.

Next we take you to Minnesota, where Michael Cuddyer was busy leading the Twins to a 10-3 victory after hitting two home runs in the seventh inning as part of an 8-run outburst.  While it wasn’t as rare as the unassisted triple play, Cuddyer’s two homers in a single inning is not common, happening only 52 times prevously.

Sunday was just one day among the many of a 2009 season which has been no stranger to rarities.  Earlier this month, when Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle he became the fifth this season to do so, only the 12th time that many players have accomplished such an achievement in a single season.  On July 27th, Josh Willingham hit two grand slams in a single game, just the 13th time that has happened, and Mark Buehrle’s perfect game on July 23rd was the 18th in Major League history.

With all that has happened thus far throughout the 2009 season, ther eis no telling what we should expect for the remainder of it.  Just don’t bet on a Chicago Cubs World Series victory becomming the next rarity to come through.

Here are the highlights from an unreal ninth inning between the Mets and Phillies.