Michael Conforto heard a small boo of COVID’s limited crowd of 8,011 people at Citi Field for Thursday’s home opener after playing in a double play to conclude the seventh inning. His next bat-bat was more celebrated.
Beating with loaded bases in a tie game in the ninth inning, Conforto leaned toward the strike zone and pulled an Anthony Bass slider from his right elbow, sending the Mets to a 3-2 victory. about the Marlins.
Plate referee Ron Kulpa ruled that Bass’s throw cut Conforto’s elbow. Marlins coach Don Mattingly argued the call (on playing it, it looked like Conforto was leaning on the field of play), but was told the play was not reviewable.
Jeff McNeil’s homer tie against Bass who led the ninth helped rescue the Mets, who had only four hits so far. McNeil had started the season 0-10.
The Mets were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners at base. They will enter the free day on Friday 6 against 35 (0.171) with runners in scoring position this season.
In his Mets debut, Taijuan Walker lasted six innings and allowed two runs won in four hits and two walks with four hits. Walker had launched a mock game last weekend in Washington to stay strong, after the first series was postponed. He was retired after 87 launches on Thursday. It was just Citi Field’s second career outing for Walker, who had last pitched at the stadium with the Diamondbacks in 2017.
Jesus Aguilar hit an RBI single in sixth place in the Marlins ’second run, putting the Mets in a 2-1 hole. Corey Dickerson doubled to join the first race, after Jon Berti was pointed at the front of the entrance.
Walker kept the Mets unbeaten until the fifth. Brian Anderson chose one to finish the first watch without success and the departure of Jazz Chisholm Jr. gave the Marlins a scoring threat before Walker withdrew Chad Wallach to escape the entrance.
The Mets loaded the bases in the fifth, and Dominic Smith’s drive to the center had the potential to clear the fence. But Starling Mars ran toward the 408-foot sign and grabbed the ball, limiting the damage to a sacrificial fly. The next hitter, Jonathan Villar, attacked Ross Detwiler to maintain the Mets’ 1-0 lead.
Miguel Castro and Trevor May were used for the third time in four days. Each threw a closed entry before Edwin Diaz’s season debut. Diaz threw a goalless ninth with a walk and an attack to pick up the win.