Nationals' Turner ties MLB record with 3rd career cycle

Trea Turner celebrated his 28th birthday in style.

The Washington Nationals shortstop hit for the cycle for the third time in his career on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, tying the major-league record.

Turner singled in his first at-bat, then doubled in the third inning and homered in the fourth. He left the hardest part for last and clinched the cycle with a sixth-inning triple off Michael Wacha.

It appears Turner has developed somewhat of a pattern, as his first cycle came in 2017 and his second was in 2019. He's the fifth player to record three career cycles, joining Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman, Bob Meusel, and Long John Reilly.

Turner is the first player to hit for the cycle on his birthday, according to Stats By Stats. He's also the third player to complete his cycle with his 100th hit of the season, joining Hall of Fame sluggers Chuck Klein and Joe Medwick.

The cycle is MLB's first in nearly two years following the Toronto Blue Jays' Cavan Biggio's on Sept. 17, 2019. It's the 11th in Nationals/Expos history and fifth since the team moved to D.C.

Turner was lifted for pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh inning with the Nats holding a sizeable lead. Manager Dave Martinez said postgame that the shortstop was removed because he jammed his left middle finger while sliding into third, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. He's currently listed as day-to-day.

Turner's performance bumped his season slash line to .318/.367/.513 with 14 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases.