Angels commit three errors on one play allowing Ian Kinsler to score from first

The Los Angeles Angels suffered a defensive meltdown of epic proportions on Sunday afternoon. During one first inning sequence against the Detroit Tigers, they committed not one, not two, but three errors consecutively, allowing base runner Ian Kinsler to score from first base.

Good thing we have more than 140 characters.

Here's how it all went down, beginning with the fact that the entire thing could have been avoided had Angels catcher Hank Conger realized home plate umpire Brian Knight called ball four on Miguel Cabrera. Kinsler was moving from first base on the 3-2 pitch to avoid a potential double play, but that was all moot once Cabrera walked. Still, Conger went ahead with the throw and watched it sail into center field for the first physical error and an unofficial mental error.

With Kinsler moving to third, the second error occurred on a wild throw from center fielder Mike Trout, who was backing up second base. At this point Kinsler rounded third and attempted to score, which sets up the third error by pitcher Héctor Santiago. Santiago's throw home eluded Conger, the man who started the whole mess, allowing Kinsler to score and Cabrera to move up to second.

Three errors charged on one play, which by all accounts ties a major league record.

The most famous three-error play happened on July 27, 1988, when a then 45-year-old Tommy John committed three errors by himself. John bobbled a comebacker by Jeffrey Leonard of the Milwaukee Brewers and then threw wildly past first baseman Don Mattingly. The third error occurred when John cut off the throw back to the infield and then threw wildly to the plate.

It wasn't quite that embarrassing for the Angels on Sunday, or at least not for any one individual player, but it will still go down in the record books as one of the most futile defensive efforts in MLB history.

And to think it was all so easily avoidable.