A bases-loaded walk seems like a relatively innocuous play, right? The batter strolls to first base, the runners advance and the next hitter digs into the box.
That's how it usually plays out.
But on Tuesday night 每 Jackie Robinson Day across affiliated baseball -- Rockies Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque did its best impression of the color barrier-breaking Hall of Famer, inducing chaos on the basepaths and plating three runs during that very scenario, vaulting the Isotopes to a 7-2 victory over El Paso at Isotopes Park.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Albuquerque loaded the bases on two walks and an error. Rockies No. 13 prospect Ryan Ritter stepped up to the dish and worked a 3-2 count with two outs. The runners were ready to take off on the pitch.
Ritter took ball four and dropped his bat before heading to first. Austin Nola leisurely made his way from third to home and El Paso catcher Luis Campusano tossed the ball back to left-hander Omar Cruz (SD No. 20).
That＊s when the mayhem started.
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Aaron Schunk, who broke into a full sprint as Cruz released the ball, rounded third and darted for the plate, successfully stealing home -- a play forever associated with Robinson, who famously swiped home against the Yankees in Game 1 of the 1955 World Series.
Then Jordan Beck -- the runner who started the play on first -- rounded second and raced toward third. Cruz, still with the ball, attempted to throw out Beck at third base, but his throw went over the bag and up the line.
Beck quickly got to his feet and dashed to the plate to complete the true chaotic rarity.
Robinson tallied 197 stolen bases over his 10-year career with Brooklyn. It may not have been planned, but the Isotopes' three-run walk seemed a fitting tribute to the icon on his day.