COTUIT, Mass. – Occurring in the Cape Cod League approximately once every 340 at-bats, the triple is among the rarest plays in baseball. One in a game is improbable—two in a game, even less. And two in an inning—almost unheard of.

But in the second inning of an interdivision contest between the Chatham Anglers (19-15) and Cotuit Kettleers (13-21) at Lowell Park Tuesday, the Anglers proved sometimes lightning does strike the same place twice.

“You love a triple—it’s one of the most exciting things in baseball,” said Manager John Schiffner. “Everybody gets pumped-up and it’s super.”

Aaron Barnett (Pepperdine) extended his hit streak to eight games on Tuesday. 

After having hit only one three-bagger all season (coming off the bat of Zack Short (Sacred Heart) against Harwich on June 16), the Angler offense ripped two in that second inning. Nate Mondou (Wake Forest) legged out the first on a gaper in left-center, and Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State) added his own on a line drive to right-center. Both drove in two RBIs in the seven-run frame that propelled Chatham to a 7-2 victory over Cotuit.

“We took some good at-bats and got on base,” said Schiffner. “Guys are starting to swing it a little bit better—that was a good job.”

Aaron Barnett (Pepperdine) set the early rally in motion by extending his hit streak to eight games with a lead-off single. 13 Chatham batters came to the plate in the inning, thanks in part to Luke Persico’s (UCLA) two hits and one RBI in that frame alone.

The run support was appreciated though almost entirely unnecessary for Chatham starter Zac Gallen (North Carolina). Wearing his Tar Heel-blue sleeves despite the 84 degree game-time temperature, Gallen took a no-hitter into the sixth. In summation he threw five plus innings of two-run ball, giving up two hits while striking out the same number.

“I was just trying to make some pitches,” said Gallen. “Just trying be around the zone and let batters get themselves out.”

Gallen, who moves to 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA after recording the win in his fifth summer start, was succeeded on the hill by C.J. Burdick (San Diego). After allowing the first two batters he faced to reach, the right-hander was unsolvable. Burdick sat down the next nine in order, recording four strikeouts along the way.

Jonathan Teaney (San Diego) and Andre Scrubb (High Point) combined to nail down the final frame.

The Anglers next travel to Falmouth for a 6 p.m. contest against the Commodores (13-19) Wednesday. It will be the first time Chatham has visited Falmouth since July 21, 2014. Neither team has announced probable pitchers on Pointstreak yet.