PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates turned a unique triple play in the second inning Saturday night against baseball's top team.
It was Major League Baseball's first 4-5-4 triple play.
The St. Louis Cardinals had runners on second and third when Yadier Molina lined out to Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walker. Walker fired to third baseman Jung Ho Kang to double off Jhonny Peralta for the second out.
Jason Heyward, who was on second, started walking off the field thinking the inning was over. Kang pirouetted with the ball in his hand, briefly confused, before throwing back to Walker on second for the final out.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle joked the dugout was yelling at Kang, a rookie from Korea, "in multiple languages" to toss the ball to Walker.
Heyward took the blame for the mix-up, saying he wasn't aware Walker did not touch second base after catching the liner.
"It was on me," Heyward said. "That's my bad on that one."
It was the second triple play turned by the Pirates in two seasons. They went around the horn for a triple play against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 14, 2014.
It was the first triple play the Cardinals have hit into since Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal made an unassisted triple play on Aug. 10, 2003.
The Pirates won Saturday's game 7-5.
