TORONTO – It’s been a rough first half of the season for the last-place New York Mets.
Now even routine plays are not routine.
Toronto designated hitter George Springer walked the bases on a minor league home run against the Mets on Monday night when New York’s star left fielder Juan Soto misplayed a sinking line drive and center fielder AJ Ewing fumbled the throw to keep the play alive.
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Springer started the first by sending a ball into left field against Mets pitcher Sean Manea. The ball bounced in front of Soto, and the highest-paid player in Mets history reached for it, arms waving.
“It just kind of bounced on me weirdly and bounced a little differently,” Soto said. “I thought I had a chance and then he just kept dying. I definitely took a good first step, but the ball just kept dying.”
The ball rolled toward the wall as Springer chugged around the bases.
Ewing stepped up and placed the ball behind Soto, but the ball slipped out of his glove as he tried to pick it up. The ball rolled toward the fence a second time. Soto picked it up, but by the time it was in his hands, Springer had already rounded third and was heading home.
Mets interim manager Andy Greene said Soto made an aggressive play on Springer’s ball but was hit by a bounce off the turf.
“I think every time I went to Toronto, I watched that play,” Green said. “It’s not necessarily the end of this game. I know AJ usually makes a good pass, but this play happens a lot here and it allowed us to come out on top.”
Springer hit a triple, his first of the year, with a one-base error.
“It was funny after he was gasping for the next three innings,” Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage said of his veteran teammate.
Springer jokingly disputed Yesavage’s account.
“Like nine (innings),” he said of his fight against the wind. “Had to prepare this old body to run a little faster, but it’s okay.”
The error was Ewing’s second of the season.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor made an error later in the game, raising New York’s season total to 56, third-most in the majors behind the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants.
New York lost 2–1 and fell to 35–50 on the year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.