Daniel Vogelbach tried to leg out a double in a key part of the Mets’ 8-7 loss to the Mariners on Saturday night at Citi Field.
It didn’t end well.
With the Mets trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth inning and looking to make their third comeback of the game, the husky designated hitter laced a rope to left-center field off Seattle reliever Justin Topa that was heading to the wall.
But Mariners left fielder Sam Haggerty cut the ball off before it got to the fence, wheeled around and threw a one-hop strike to the cutoff man, shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was in shallow outfield near second base.
Crawford threw a quick strike to second baseman Josh Rojas who turned around to tag out the rumbling Vogelbach who was diving head-first into the bag.
Vogelbach — who has struggled this season and is batting just .229 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs — didn’t argue and seemed resigned that he was thrown out out.
After the play, he dusted himself off while also blowing a bubble with the gum he apparently had in his mouth while making the mad dash to second base.
Making matters worse for the Mets and Vogelbach was the fact D.J. Stewart followed with a single.
If Vogelbach didn’t take the gamble, it would have changed the complexion of the inning because the Mets would have had two runners on and no outs.
Speedster Tim Locastro, a former Yankee, pinch ran for Stewart, but likely would have pinch run for Vogelbach if the slugger decided to settle for a single.
Brett Baty, who pinch hit for Jonathan Arauz, was up next but fouled out to third. Arauz had entered the game after Mark Vientos was forced to exit with a “sore right foot,” according to manager Buck Showalter.
Francisco Alvarez, who batted for Omar Narvaez, grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Now if Vogelbach’s gamble paid off… but alas, it didn’t.
Read more
