The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal turned the 12th unassisted triple play in major league history Sunday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With runners on first and second in the fifth inning, Furcal made a leaping grab of pitcher Woody Williams' liner. The runners were going on a 1-1 pitch, and Furcal stepped on second base to double up Mike Matheny before tagging out Orlando Palmeiro as he made a futile attempt to scamper back to first.

It was the first unassisted triple play in the majors since Oakland second baseman Randy Velarde did it against the New York Yankees on May 29, 2000. It was also the first in Atlanta history - Ernie Padgett of the Boston Braves turned one on Oct. 6, 1923.

One of the 12 unassisted triple plays in big league history came in the 1920 World Series, when Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss did it in the fifth inning of Game 5 against Brooklyn.

The Cardinals have hit into two unassisted triple plays. On May 7, 1925, Pittsburgh shortstop Glenn Wright caught Jim Bottomley's ninth-inning line drive, stepped on second to retire Jimmy Cooney and tagged Rogers Hornsby coming from first to end the game.

The Cardinals have hit into two triple plays this season, also doing it April 10 at Colorado.

Matheny singled to start the fifth, and Palmeiro reached when pitcher Horacio Ramirez threw late to second on his sacrifice bunt. Williams tried to bunt earlier in the at-bat, but the .260-hitting pitcher was allowed to swing away.

RANGERS: Rafael Palmeiro has decided to stay with Texas and not accept a possible trade to the Chicago Cubs.

Palmeiro turned down a deal to Chicago before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The 38-year-old first baseman cleared waivers Tuesday and the Rangers approached him again about the deal.

"I'm staying here and helping this team get back to .500 because that is a possibility and it would be a great thing if we were able to do that," Palmeiro told MLB.com. "I want to help them do it and in the meantime, hopefully work something out so I could finish my career here."

Palmeiro, eligible for free agency after the season, is hitting .253 with 28 home runs and 80 RBI.

BLUE JAYS: Toronto released right-handed reliever Scott Service and recalled catcher Kevin Cash from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Service, a Cincinnati native, had a 4.50 ERA in 15 games with Toronto this season. The 36-year-old Service allowed two hits and one walk in one-third of an inning in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas.

Cash hit .270 with eight home runs and 37 RBI at Syracuse.

PAWTUCKET: Bronson Arroyo pitched the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the 120-year history of the International League on Sunday to lead the Red Sox to a 7-0 win over the Buffalo Bisons.

Arroyo struck out nine in the 101-pitch outing.