Joey Lucchesi makes head-scratching throw to empty base in Mets blunder
That’s one Joey Lucchesi is going to want to have back.
During the fifth inning of the Mets’ game against the Marlins on Tuesday night, the left-hander fielded a bunt and inexplicably threw to an empty third base, allowing Miami to score at loanDepot park
“I felt a little embarrassed,” Lucchesi said after the game.
The inning started when Jon Berti led off with a double before Nick Fortes was plunked, setting up a first-and-second situation with nobody out and Xavier Edwards at the plate.
The Marlins second baseman then got a perfect bunt down the third-base side, putting it in between the mound and the line.
Lucchesi came off the mound while Ronny Mauricio charged in from third base, leaving the base completely uncovered as Francisco Lindor went to cover second.
But the Mets’ pitcher, for some reason, threw the ball to third with only Berti standing on the base.
“I guess that I kind of felt someone was over there,” Lucchesi said of his throw to third. “I am just going to own it. I kind of made a bad mental mistake and I have got to learn from it … I probably should have just held the ball and thrown to first.”
The ball sailed into left field and Berti scored.
Left fielder Tim Locastro picked up the ball and threw to third — this time with Mauricio on the base — in time to get Fortes out, while Edwards safely ran into second.
The play was eventually ruled a single and an error on the throw, which allowed the run to score and Edwards to get a free base.
The Marlins went on to win the game 4-3.
It was a bizarre play for Lucchesi, who has been a bright spot for the Mets in September.
The 30-year-old finished the start by going 5 2/3 innings and allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts.
In his last start, he threw seven scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks, the second time he’d gone seven frames this season.
Over 40 2/3 innings this season, Lucchesi has a 2.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP with 29 strikeouts.