SARASOTA, Fla. -- Braves leadoff hitter Mallex Smith tripled twice in the first inning on Wednesday, keying a seven-run outburst in the matchup with the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.
For context, the last time this happened in the regular season was in 2006, when Cory Sullivan accomplished the feat for the Colorado Rockies in a 10-4 victory over the Padres.
Smith's first three-bagger was a liner down the right-field line, while his second came on a wind-blown fly ball that was misjudged by Baltimore right fielder Mark Trumbo.
Smith scored the game's first run when Michael Bourn singled him home, and he was stranded at third when Jeff Francoeur grounded to short to end the inning.