A seemingly harmless ground ball back towards the pitcher's mound somehow turned into three runs for the Mets, thanks to the Royals throwing the ball all over Citi Field.
In a scoreless game in the first inning of Tuesday's series opener, Carson Benge bounced a high chopper to the left of the mound, one that many would assume would result in an inning-ending groundout. Instead, starting pitcher Seth Lugo bounced a sidearm throw to first, and it skipped down the right field line as a run scored. First baseman Jac Caglianone rushed to pick up the loose ball, and hurried a throw across the diamond in an attempt to nab Bo Bichette at third. The throw was way off line, allowing Bichette to score the second run of the play.
Kansas City was not done.
Third baseman Nick Loftin retrieved the errant throw and airmailed his attempt to nab Bichette at the plate, sending the ball back up the first base line, near the start of the disastrous play when Lugo threw it in the dirt at Caglianone's feet. Benge, who started it all with his soft bouncer in the infield grass, scored standing up to complete his improbable trip around the bases and give the Mets a 3-0 lead.
New York was aided by three throwing errors on the same play, each by a different Royals player. In a season where the Mets have been the culprit of several mishaps, they were now the beneficiary of a collective gaffe that baseball rarely sees on a single ball in play.
Watch the full play here.
The Royals made a comedy of errors in one wild play that led to three runs.
The Royals made a comedy of errors in one wild play that led to three runs.
