No one was happy with the way the Mets won their Thursday afternoon game against the Marlins, not even their broadcast team.
The Mets completed perhaps the most controversial victory of the first season when, with the bases loaded at the bottom of the ninth, Michael Conforto leaned toward a playing field that was clearly in the strike zone and should have ‘having been called up for a strike of three. Instead, the referees decided he was hit by a throw, walking in the winning race.
After the replay, the call was maintained, but the broadcast team of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez of the Mets, were not afraid to shout what everyone was seeing.
Immediately, a startled Cohen said, “He hit Conforto, he made no effort to get out of the way, it was a strike, but he didn’t move.” In one play, broadcasters confirmed that he was leaning in and seemed confident they would call back, arguing whether the play was reviewable or not.
When the call was maintained, the broadcasters did not celebrate and seemed downcast and frustrated even though their team left with a victory.
“It simply came to our notice then. They don’t do well. So why is it even repeated? Darling asked.
Later, referee Ron Kulpa acknowledged that he called and said, “I should have called him.”
The result is the result, and the Mets won their first home goal, bringing their record to 2-2 in the young season.