The Citi Area crowd may need began in a superb temper after the ceremony honoring David Wright earlier than the sport.
However they actually didn’t finish that manner, showering boos throughout the ultimate innings of a 5-2 loss to the Reds.
On such episode of jeering got here on what gave the impression to be a double play that went awry.
From the way in which the ball left Tyler Stephenson’s bat, the end result appeared predictable.
It could’ve allowed Reed Garrett, who’d simply changed Clay Holmes and inherited a first-and-third jam within the sixth inning, to flee after only one pitch.
However after Ronny Mauricio fielded the 73 mph grounder at third, his throw pulled Brett Baty to the left and off second base, turning a possible inning-ending double play right into a fielder’s selection that allowed a run to attain.
One batter later, Jake Fraley doubled to plate Stephenson.
Mauricio’s miscue led to the Mets finally surrendering the 2 insurance coverage runs they couldn’t afford to permit with a principally quiet offense struggling once more.
“Maybe trying to be a little too quick there, especially knowing the runners from home to first,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated. “You have the catcher there, and maybe just a little too quick there when you know that knowing the runner and the situation there, making sure that you finish the play there. And we didn’t do it.”
Mauricio, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on the plate, was one of many Mets who obtained boos from the sold-out crowd at Citi Area.
Two innings after the errant throw, after Jeff McNeil led off the eighth by reaching on an error, Mauricio had an opportunity to increase the Mets’ try at a rally, however as an alternative, he grounded the primary pitch again up the center and allowed shortstop Elly De La Cruz to simply step on second and snap a throw to first.
He additionally had an opportunity to ship within the first inning with the bases loaded — a chance to assist the Mets construct on an early lead after Mark Vientos’ RBI single — however grounded out to second, including one other wrinkle to his rocky 31-game stretch within the majors that adopted a return from the torn ACL that value him all of 2024.
At occasions, Mauricio has flashed his potential and offered a glimpse on the tantalizing energy with 4 homers.
At different factors, he has produced reminders, such because the .096 common and .279 OPS with runners in scoring place he entered Saturday with, for why he’s caught in a three-man logjam at third base with Baty and Vientos.
“He’s been really good for us defensively,” Mendoza stated of Mauricio’s 17 begins at third base. “Continues to make plays — not only the routine plays, but I feel like he’s showing some range and his ability to throw from different angles, coming in to the ball, backhanded. Overall, he’s been solid for us there.”
However with the Mets needing him to execute a routine play, Mauricio faltered.
