Jeff McNeil took a trip around the bases at Fenway Park on Saturday night that looked more like a play from a Little League game than one involving major leaguers.
The Mets, who went on to lose 8-6 to the Red Sox, were trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning when McNeil turned a two-run single into a full trip home as he scored after catcher Jorge Alfaro made a horrific throw to second base.
The second baseman came to the plate with two out after Francisco Lindor had singled and Pete Alonso had doubled to get the rally started. McNeil lined a 94-mph fastball from Boston starter James Paxton up the middle, driving in both runners.
Center fielder Jarren Duran fielded the single and sailed a throw home that was far too late to get Alonso. Seeing that Duran was throwing to the plate, McNeil scampered toward second base.
Alfaro grabbed Duran’s throw, then got aggressive and tried to cut down the 31-year-old at second. His throw, however, missed shortstop Yu Chang by a healthy margin.
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (1) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) react after scoring on a throwing error by Boston Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) during the fourth inning at Fenway Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConThe ball rolled deep into left-center field, and by the time Duran had flagged it down, McNeil had already scored to complete the wacky play and give the Mets a 3-2 lead, which was erased in the fifth on Chang’s solo home run.
Officially, McNeil was credited with a single, and he scored on Alfaro’s throwing error.
