The sixth inning of Game 1 against the Marlins on Tuesday is one Jeff McNeil might like to forget.
The Mets were already reeling after loading the bases with one out but failing to score in the bottom of the fifth, leaving them down 3-1 after five and leaving McNeil on deck. And then, with two out in the top of the sixth and Magneuris Sierra on first, the game unraveled for the Mets thanks to a couple of unspectacular plays.
First, it appeared catcher Patrick Mazeika called for a pitchout on a hunch that Sierra might try to steal. The latter was happening, but pitcher Heath Hembree crossed up Mazeika and threw a regular pitch, forcing the catcher to reach back across the plate before throwing to second – which resulted in a high throw that ticked off McNeil’s glove into right field, allowing Sierra to take third.
Hembree then walked Alex Jackson and that brought up NL RBI leader Jesus Aguilar, who extended his lead by two more ribbies thanks to this miscommunication on a ball in no mans’ land:
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McNeil stayed in the game after being down for a few moments, but the damage was done, as both runners scored (running on contact with two outs), making it 5-1 Marlins.
Mazeika was charged with the error on the throw, but both runs ended up earned, and it was a rough inning overall for McNeil and the Mets, who entered the game 3-9 against the Marlins on the season and in the midst of a controversy involving their normal middle infield apparently lashing out at fans over being booed.
The Mets also took Mazeika out of the game after six innings, although his departure was part of a double switch to bring in pitcher Miguel Castro, as Mazeika had made the final out of the bottom of the sixth. Chance Sisco replaced him behind the plate, hitting in the ninth spot (so he could lead off the seventh) while Castro came into Mazeika’s No. 8 slot.
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