The Mets won’t be used as an example for any base running tutorials anytime soon.
The team managed an inexplicable base running blunder during the top of the second inning with a runner on second and nobody out against the Guardians at Progressive Field on Monday.
Starling Marte hit into a 1-6-5-3 double play when he sent a ball right back to pitcher Ben Lively, who turned and threw the ball to second to try and get J.D. Martinez, who was caught between second and third base and was eventually tagged out by third baseman José Ramírez.
But that wasn’t the end of the play as Marte was going to attempt to get to second, he turned back to go to first.
Ramírez noticed what was going on and made a quick throw to first base and Josh Naylor was able to apply the tag in time to complete the double play.
“Oh goodness,” SNY play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen said on air after the play developed.
The inning didn’t get much better for the Mets either.
Brett Baty struck out on three pitches to end the frame with the Mets down 2-0.
The Mets did get a run on the board in the third when Tomás Nido hit a solo home run.
But the day didn’t get much better for Marte, who was ejected from the game in the fourth inning after he was arguing a called strikeout.
The Amazins’ have been in an unfortunate stretch that has seen the ballclub drop seven of its last 10 games going into Monday night’s game with the Guardians.
The Mets are below .500 with a 21-25 record this season.
They made a minor trade earlier in the day on Monday, sending Yohan Ramirez to the Dodgers in exchange for cash.
Ramirez had made the Mets’ Opening Day roster and had posted an 11.81 ERA over 5 1/3 innings before he was designated for assignment on April 8 and then traded three days later.
He was claimed by the Mets off waivers on May 6.