It’s been 557 days since the Mets had fans at Citi Field for a baseball game. It’s only right they were treated to one of the wildest endings to a ballgame in the team’s history.
On a disputed hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets were able to elbow-in the winning run for a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins in their home opener Thursday.
With the bases loaded and one out, Michael Conforto stuck out his right elbow pad just enough to get grazed by a 1-2 breaking ball from Marlins closer Anthony Bass.
The breaking ball from Bass appeared to be in the strike zone which would’ve, and should’ve, been strike three.
According to baseball rules, if a batter is plunked by a pitch in the strike zone, it’s a strike and not a hit by pitch.
In baseball, however, the rulebook is never that simple.
According to replay regulations, whether the pitch was in the strike zone or the batter made any attempt to evade is not subject to video review. Those are umpire judgment calls, and only whether the ball touched the batter is reviewable.
Home plate umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa at first signaled strike, then quickly ruled Conforto was hit by the pitch.
Conforto headed to first base and, with the bases already full, Luis Guillorme jogged home from third base with the winning run.
“It’s one of those plays where it looked like the guy was hit,” Kulpa told the media afterwards. “The guy was hit by the pitch in the strike zone. I should have called him out.”
Catching a break and moving forward
It was quite the ending after a tough day getting run support for starting pitcher Taijuan Walker. Heading into the ninth inning the Mets were held to four hits by Miami’s pitching. Walker, making his team debut, was strong through six innings of work.
Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the ninth for the Mets and tied the game with a home run into the right field seats. It was a heck of a way to break out of an early slump. Also, worth keeping an eye on, Edwin Diaz pitched a hitless top of the ninth in his season debut.
Afterwards, Conforto and the Mets knew they caught a break.
“Our first base coach was yelling at me to get down there, touch the base and let’s get out of here,” he recalled. “A win’s a win. It’s over. But obviously, I’d like to use the bat next time for sure.”
There was a sold-out crowd of 8,492, with capacity limited to 20% at Citi Field due to COVID-19 regulations.
For the Mets, what’s on deck?
The Mets turn to their ace Jacob deGrom, on full rest, when the series resumes Saturday. He’ll face Miami’s left-hander Trevor Rogers.
Image: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
