At first, it appeared like a routine grounder.
It appeared like Carlos Mendoza’s choice to stay with Kodai Senga for yet another batter had paid off.
It appeared like Jared Triolo had grounded a ball proper to Mark Vientos for what can be the third out of the sixth inning.
However then it fairly actually went by way of a gap in his glove and rolled behind him.
Vientos bizarrely had an area within the webbing giant sufficient for the baseball to sneak by way of, permitting the Pirates to increase the inning with runners on second and third.
It was formally scored as a double and never an error, however till Brett Baty snapped the tie with a homer within the seventh, Vientos’ gaffe jeopardized the Mets lead towards one of many worst groups in baseball throughout their 2-1 win Tuesday at Citi Discipline.
“From the dugout, it happened so fast, I didn’t know what happened,” Mendoza mentioned. “Tough break there. I’ve seen it before, but yeah, it happened there.”
Mendoza had walked to the mound, checked on Senga and instructed the Mets ace that he had yet another hitter — along with his pitch rely already at 99 — earlier than exiting.
Reed Garrett walked the subsequent two batters after the double and Senga’s removing.
Vientos nonetheless used the glove after the sequence and received the opening mounted in between innings, in response to the published. He was faraway from the sport for the underside of the ninth inning after Luisangel Acuña entered as a defensive alternative and Baty slid to 3rd.
After his begin Tuesday, Senga’s ERA (1.22) is the second greatest by way of eight begins in Mets historical past, trailing solely Jacob deGrom’s 0.71 in 2021.
Senga additionally topped 100 pitches for the primary time since Sept. 20, 2023.
David Wright, again at Citi Discipline on Tuesday, mentioned Pete Alonso is “certainly deserving” of breaking the all-time Mets residence run file, which may probably occur this season.
Alonso, who launched 9 by way of his first 42 video games this season, at the moment sits third on the franchise record with 235 homers, trailing simply Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252).
“Certainly one of the premier power hitters in baseball,” Wright mentioned, “and again, it just seems like every time the ball leaves his bat, it’s got a chance to get out of the ballpark. … He’s certainly gonna pass me. Maybe this week.”
