Angel Hernandez is at it again — and may have cost the Mets on the game’s first batter.
Brandon Nimmo led off the first inning with a hard-struck ball into the left-center field gap, and hustled for what he believed to be a triple for the Mets on Sunday against the Marlins in Miami. He was quickly asked to return to second base as Hernandez, the home plate umpire, called that the ball was lodged under the fence, thus resulting in a dead ball and a ground rule double.
Mets manager Buck Showalter argued and then challenged it as Marlins centerfielder JJ Bleday did not put his hands up to signal a dead ball. He instead picked it up and played it as it was. Also, it was questionable if the ball was stuck at all.
Angel Hernandez SNYThe call on the field was ultimately upheld as, according to the SNY broadcast, replay officials could not determine if the ball was lodged or not.
“I have never seen this call,” Keith Hernandez said on the broadcast.
“It’s the wrong call,” Ron Darling added. “It’s a terrible call.”
After Keith Hernandez determined it was Angel Hernandez — no relation — who made the call, he and his partners took a few jabs at the notoriously bad umpire.
Angel Hernandez rules the ball was lodged under the fence and thus a ground rule double. SNY“He’s the furthest one away and he’s got to stick his nose in it.” Keith Hernandez said. “Now we understand.”
Darling also chimed in.
“If you had the over/under at 90 seconds with Angel and you had the under, you win with Angel.”
Nimmo, who did hit a three-run homer two innings later, ended up getting stranded at second and Max Scherzer, who is on the IL, ended up getting ejected from the dugout.



