Now batting for the Los Angeles Dodgers ... Bruce Banner?
The enduring image of Friday night’s Dodgers/Mets game in Queens would have to be this meme-worthy screenshot of Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy, whose face lit up like the Incredible Hulk when a yet-to-be-identified fan pointed a green laser on him during his ninth-inning at-bat against Mets closer Edwin Diaz. Understandably distracted, Muncy stepped out, complaining to home plate umpire Chris Conroy, who paused the game several minutes to search for the culprit.
Unfortunately, no justice was served as the mystery laser pointer remained at large. Muncy ultimately struck out to end the ninth, though the Dodgers would rally to win 6-5 in extras, taking the lead for good on Will Smith’s two-run blast to begin the 10th inning (Muncy was “ghost-running” at second in accordance with MLB’s new extra-inning rules).
In his comments after the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas was critical of the fan who disrupted play, feeling it took away from what was otherwise one of the better crowds assembled at Citi Field this season. “The players are here, they’re performing, they’re putting on a show for the fans,” lamented the second-year skipper. “So for that to happen, it’s just something you don’t want to see.”
A similar occurrence took place at Yankees Stadium earlier this year when Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez alerted the crew of a bright flash impeding his view from behind home plate. Play would eventually resume after a thorough investigation by umpires and stadium officials, who determined the light had come from the batter’s eye in center field.
The Mets, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Friday night, enter Saturday’s action trailing Atlanta and Philadelphia by half a game for the division-lead in a tight NL East.
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