Hiura redefines 3-unassisted play, takes scenic route for out

Three, unassisted.

It's a play we've seen many times, and it usually involves a ground ball to the first baseman, who fields it and then runs to the bag to complete the putout.

The trek is normally a short one -- if the first baseman is too far off the bag to get there in time to beat the batter-runner, it's the pitcher's job to get there to take his throw.

So when Keston Hiura, playing first base for the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, fielded a ground ball in the fifth inning of Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers at Isotopes Park, the immediate expectation was that he'd take it to the bag for the out. It was obviously his expectation as well -- he initially took a step toward first base.

But then came one of the most bizarre "3-U" plays we've ever seen.

There were runners at second and third with nobody out when the ball was hit to Hiura. While the runner at third stayed put, the runner at second -- Samad Taylor -- broke for third. Hiura ran toward Taylor until he finally tagged him out next to the third-base bag.

Going across the diamond from one corner infield position to another for a "three, unassisted" putout is definitely not something a first baseman anticipates when he wakes up in the morning.

But hey, that's baseball -- you could see anything on any given day.