The Mets won their home opener on the most epic of walk-off…hit by pitches?
Indeed, after entering the bottom of the ninth down 2-1 to the Marlins on Thursday, the Mets tied the game on a Jeff McNeil leadoff solo homer. Then, five batters later, with the bases loaded and one out, Michael Conforto took a pitch and home plate umpire Ron Kulpa was about to ring him up…but before he did, Conforto flinched his elbow, and Kulpa signaled the ball hit Conforto, driving in the game-winning run with a hit by pitch.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly came out to argue and the play was reviewed, but upheld – despite replays seeming to show that Conforto moved his arm into the path of the pitch, which grazed the outside of his elbow guard if it hit him at all.
And, as you might expect, professional and amateur pundits alike weighed in on the controversial win.
Follow Ryan Chichester and Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @ryanchichester1 and @LouDiPietroWFAN
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