Gio Urshela’s quick thinking adds up to another triple play for Yankees

BUFFALO — Aaron Boone is still surprised by some of the things that Gio Urshela does. He knows he shouldn’t be, though. Urshela’s quick thinking on the end of an awkward double play Thursday night gave the Yankees their second triple play of the season and 26th in team history.

“We were just trying to get an out ... we got the opportunity to get two, and then I I turned around and we had the opportunity to get three outs,” Urshela said of the wacky play in the first inning. “So that was good for the team.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a soft comebacker to pitcher Michel King who fielded it and threw to first to get the Blue Jays’ designated hitter. Bo Bichette, who was at second, took off for third with Marcus Semien edging down the line towards home.

After getting Guerrero, DJ LeMahieu tossed to second, so Semien broke for home. Gleyber Torres’ throw to catcher Gary Sanchez at home beat him, so the Yankees got him in a run-down between third and home with Urshela tagging him.

Urshela then turned and quickly fired to third as Bichette tried to sneak in. He was out.

“I thought [King] did a really good job of just not being in a hurry getting off the mound, slowing the game down a little bit, but making a really good solid play,” Boone said. “And then everyone obviously got involved and just played good defense to execute that.

“So it was huge, because who knows where that inning goes if Vladimir gets on. [I] think through the first two innings there are four base runners and we ended up facing the minimum so you don’t see that every day.”

The Yankees also turned a triple play May 21 against the White Sox. It is the first time in team history they turned two in one season.