Mets beat Marlins on controversial bases-loaded hit-by-pitch originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Losing is always no fun, but losing the way the Miami Marlins did against the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon takes the pain of losing to a whole new level.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and one out in a 2-2 contest, it looked as if the Marlins were going to live for at least another at-bat as it appeared that reliever Anthony Bass had caught Michael Conforto looking on a called third strike.
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The only thing is he didn't, as the ball just grazed Conforto's elbow. Ruled a hit-by-pitch, Conforto took first base, the winning run scored and the Mets celebrated.
Already a wild moment, more chaos ensued from there.
Watching the play in slow motion, it appeared Conforto purposefully leaned into the pitch, making no effort to get out the way. It seemed so obvious that even the Mets broadcast team assumed that the call had to be overturned and the game would continue.
Conforto, however, felt different.
"From my point of view, it was a slider. It felt like it was coming back to me. I turned," Conforto said postgame. "There may have been a little lift to my elbow just out of habit, out of reaction, and it barely skimmed the edge of my elbow guard."
Marlins manager Don Mattingly made his argument and the umpires went to a review, but the official ruling was as shocking as the original. The crew ruled that Conforto was hit. Game over. Mets win.
According to the SNY broadcast crew, the reasoning stemmed from the fact that the type of play in question was not reviewable, meaning it was a call that had no chance of being overturned. That's something that Mattingly feels won't sit well with anyone, except for the Mets.
Bass, who was on the mound, as well as fellow pitcher Sandy Alcantra were in disbelief at what went down as well.
As far as losses go, falling to a division rival in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off hit-by-pitch that probably shouldn't have been a hit-by-pitch has to be up there in terms of worst ways to lose a baseball game.
Miami is now 1-6 on the young season, and if there's any sign that things just aren't going the Marlins' way, it's probably the events that unfolded on Thursday.
