Jean Segura sent the Mariners to extra innings with three straight defensive gems

Chances are you grew up throwing a ball against a wall and pretending to make a series of highlight-reel defensive gems in a row. Jean Segura did the same thing. The only difference: While yours was all imagination, Segura's came in the ninth inning of a tie ballgame against the best team in the American League during the Mariners' 9-7 victory in 10 innings on Monday night. 
You honestly may never see a more dominant single inning from a single defender again. 
Segura started his master class with one on and no out in the bottom of the ninth when Marwin Gonzalez hit a sharp grounder that looked ticketed to left field. If the hit didn't score Josh Reddick from second, it would have made things plenty easy later with runners on the corner and no one out.
Only problem: Segura was there with the diving stop. He didn't even have time to get to his feet, instead throwing from a repose: 

After Yuli Gurriel was intentionally walked and stole second base, Norichika Aoki hit a ground ball straight to Segura. Fielding it quickly, Segura fired a pinpoint throw to nail Reddick at home. 

Though there were now two down, the danger wasn't over as Gurriel had raced to third on the fielder's choice. When Alex Bregman next hit a grounder to Segura's left, surely that would give the Astros the win ... right? There was no way Segura could both glove the ball and throw for the out? And in what universe could Segura make three straight game-saving plays? 
Turns out he did -- his throw to second just beating Brian McCann, who was intentionally walked: 

Naturally, his Mariners teammates loved it. And can you look at Segura's smile and not feel warmth fill you? 

As did the fans on Twitter: 

Jean Segura just had the single greatest individual defensive inning in baseball history. I surveyed them all. He wins. It's not close.

— alexSSN (@alexSSN) July 18, 2017

That was the most amazing half inning I've ever seen from a shortstop. And I watched Ozzie Smith growing up. #Segura #Mariners

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 18, 2017

This Jean Segura guy catches everything! pic.twitter.com/zWhmXMT4pW

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) July 18, 2017

"I think that changed the whole game," Astros manager A.J. Hinche told MLB.com's Greg Johns after the game. "It kept them in the game. Both plays were exceptional and he also made the throw to home to get Reddick. It's hard to argue he didn't make the most important plays of the game."

Segura's efforts seemed to fire up the offense. Kyle Seager and Danny Valencia then hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the 10th to give the Mariners the lead and eventual victory. Sure enough, Segura was called on one more time as he made a nice stop on George Springer's hard-hit grounder in the bottom half to secure the win.